The Obama Administration should acknowledge that the United States confronts a huge—but not united--revolutionary movement [Revolutionary Islamism] which has major assets. Elements control Iran, Syria (not Islamist but allied with it), Sudan, the Gaza Strip, and now in part Lebanon, too. There are major elements in the Pakistani and Turkish governments that lend it aid and comfort. It is also fueled by Saudi Wahabi Islam and money.
[Revolutionary Islamism] is fighting in two dozen countries, from Indonesia, the Philippines, China, and Thailand in the east, to Morocco and even within Europe on the western flank. That movement is also challenging for authority in every Arabic-speaking country and trying to destroy Israel.
The following should be instructive to those who (a) want either to blame all Muslims or Islam itself for the behavior of jihadi Islamists; or (b) who chose to believe that the concept of military jihad is not present in the sacred Islamic texts. -- MF
[T]raditional Islam in most places was socially reactionary but also relatively moderate. While jihad was part of the sacred texts, no one was advocating that it be carried out. Suicide attacks were viewed as a heretical activity. ... [R]evolutionary Islamism reinterpreted conservative traditional Islam. ...[Revolutionary Islamism] used deep-seated beliefs and values ...[and] made them into something quite different.
