The moderate muslim is like the political moderate - a coward who is afraid to make any real stand on principle.
They will not rein in extremists. They will keep their heads down, their mouths shut, and submit.
In my opinion, the resistance to HizbAllah in Lebanon was based more on their traditional sectarian politics, with Sunnis and Christians opposing Shia domination, than it was a popular repudiation of a militant interpretation of Islam.
In Egypt, I would argue that there was a bit of this repudiation, but more a popular reaction against a tanking economy and abuse of their liberties, as well as a counter-revolution by the old regime.
The West has surrendered in the ideological battle by simply saying Islam is a religion of peace. The principles which drive their violence must be countered.
The principle of abrogation, where the later sayings of Muhammad override the earlier ones whenever there is a conflict, shows plainly that Muhammad did not reliably speak for an all-knowing God. Yet the Islamic scholarship that promotes terrorism and jihad depends on this arbitrary principle.
The principle of holding Muhammad as the best example of humanity, establishes that no one can make judgements that vary form his - so all judgement is removed from consideration, in favor of blind obedience to a demonstrably flawed character.
Those totalitarian and anti-intellectual principles must be undermined in favor of using a principle of moral analysis and individual conscience.
Excellent Post!