Islamic radicals are a traditional reaction to tyranny in their region, and the  inability of local despots to rule effectively. Economic and diplomatic ties  with the West are interpreted as support, leading to  attacks on Western  targets that created a devastating counterattack. The result of this in the  Moslem world has been dramatic, finally forcing leaders and people to confront  their self-inflicted problems. Al Qaeda is as self-destructive as its many  predecessors. Al Qaeda suicide bomb attacks that continue to kill civilians,  continues to turn Moslems against al Qaeda in a big way. But the terrorists  justify such dumb attacks because their doctrine holds that Moslems who don't  agree with them, are not really Moslems. You can imagine how well that goes over  with most Moslems. You can, but al Qaeda can't, and that is what guarantees  their demise.  |