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This is the dilemma we face: Politically and economically, the modern world has left much of the Muslim society behind. The only lever of power that impotent Islamists and Islamist nations now have to make the West take them seriously is violence. By kowtowing to this violence, we only reinforce its power and guarantee its spread.

Okay, I'm liking the gist of the article, but point here: modernity did not leave Muslim society behind. Muslim society, by voluntary adherence to a particular version of Islam, failed to jump on the modernity train when it was leaving the station.

The West no more left Muslim societies behind than the West left Amish societies behind. Hello.

As for finding some means to force the West to "take Muslim societies seriously," whaaaa?? What is the author trying to say? Why do all societies have to be taken seriously (whatever that means) and why do Muslim societies care if we, the Infidel, take them "seriously"?

Is this something like the immature concept of being "dissed"? Is that what all this mayhem and bloodshed and death to fill-in-the-blank is about---the Oprah-like grievance of not being appreciated for -- sob -- who you truly are?

And, again, hello. Memo to Muslim societies: the West takes your oil plenty seriously. You have power because of it, period. Once the West gets fed up with you and decides to get off the dime and modernize (ooohhh-there's that word again) from the 19th century combustible engine, forgeddaboutit.