I think it's a combination of that sort of cowardice, and rank political correctness.
A while back, Spengler had another one of his essays published "under objection" - where the ATimes editor added a comment that Spengler's views did not reflect the views of the ATimes, blah blah blah.
But this time I think there may have been a perfect storm of political correctness and cowardice at the ATimes, and I'm wondering if we've seen the last of Spengler's work over there...
I think its a well founded fear. The Pope makes mention of something someone SAID about Islam in the 1600's and he gets death threats.
France feeds, clothes, houses, and generally bows before Muslims there, and 350 of their cities burned this summer.