Even if a nuclear bomb went off in New York city I don't think Americans would have the will do so what the author suggests.
If backpack bombs went off in malls all over "flyover country", I think a certain hostile attitude would develop real fast.
Keep in mind that it's only been 59 years since we nuked Japan, and a bit over a century from when we concluded a campaign that pretty-much exterminated the Native American race in the US. The Muslims mess with us at their own considerable risk