Western Civilization has been going on for a long time and through most of that time neither liberty nor equality of opportunity were much in evidence. This redefining of Western Civ as a set of (liberal) values is part of the problem, after all if these values define your civilization then anyone who holds them is part of that civilization, a radical redefining of the concept. (While it might be debated whether equality of opportunity is increasing in the West, liberty clearly is in decline from its height.) I'm sure the author understands that civilizations are more than some contemporary values but unfortunately most of our political and intellectual leadership do not. Radical Islam has two great recruiting tools: the decadence of the modern West that most traditional people find repugnant, and the clear fact that the West is being colonized and its natives dispossessed by policies of elites who believe in the "creedal nation" (or civilization) concept. In the not-so-long term the West is doomed to suffer the fate of all conquered and colonized peoples and everyone outside of West can see that, why hitch your wagon to a suicidal loser?
I think you have made some interesting and cogent points but before I comment further,could you please explain what you mean by a "creedal nation". Thank you.