But the reality is the west will do what it must to survive.
Are you sure about that? I'm not. The twin evils of Political Correctness and Socialsm appears to have sapped much of the will to survive from Western civilization. Civilizations that want to survive have kids--the Europeans sure don't and Americans just barely do. I think even after a WMD attack, you will still have many Americans wanting to talk rather than act.
I'll have to think about your post. I remain optimistic, but for reasons that I can't articulate well at this late hour. My guess is that when faced with a WMD attack, many Americans will seek out religion. Traditional Christian and Jewish faiths will grow strong and supply the manpower and intellectual fortitude to defeat the Muslims. Alternative religions will grow stronger as well, but they will not have the force of a mass movement.
My argument is not very convincing, as I gave no supporting evidence. I'll think about it and write something more robust later.
The seditious MSM has effectively buried 9/11, but the mother bears of America, both conservative AND liberal, have a bookmark in their minds about it.
I'll guarantee that a WMD attack will bring a "kill 'em all and let God sort them out" response from said mother bears, the brain-dead Mother Sheehan not withstanding.
I've said this to more than a few people - the youth of America "gets it" more than many of their elders do. Many volunteered after 9/11 to set things right. I reflect on this fact occasionally, and am still astonished, for I don't expect much out of our nation's youth.