The difference between physical science and social science is that in social science, the world is our laboratory. Now I wonder if we could apply the scientific method of investigation to our war on terror. Well, let’s see . . .

Observations

a) Individuals who profess a fundamental adherence to Islam have been engaged in serial murder and mayhem since 700 A.D. Based on historical information, it cannot be concluded that Islam is a religion of peace or tolerance

Note: Most religions have at one time or another pursued policies of aggression and conflict

b) Individuals who profess a belief in Islam have funded, housed, harbored, or cooperated with fundamentalists

c) Cooperative efforts range from active to passive engagements with fundamentalist

Hypothesis

a) For any number of reasons, none of which need to be logical from the western perspective, fundamentalist Muslims will continue to attack non-Islamic institutions, persons, or places with impunity

b) Individuals who profess a belief in Islam will continue to fund, house, harbor, or cooperate with fundamentalists because they believe that they are obligated to support, nourish, or succor fellow Muslims even in spite of their extremist views

c) Individuals who profess a belief in Islam will continue to cooperate with fundamentalists, even if only by their silence, in order to avoid danger to themselves, or chastisement from other Muslims

Deductive reasoning

a) Fundamentalists cannot be convinced of the error of their ways

b) It is impossible to distinguish fundamentalists from so-called moderates by their appearance, or from outside the Muslim community; it is therefore necessary to obtain intelligence information from within the community with those who are:

(1) Already Muslims (an unlikely event)

(2) Knowledgeable about the essential tenets of Islam and willing to infiltrate mosques for the purpose of obtaining intelligence information, or

(3) Willing to convert to Islam (at least, ostensibly) for the purpose of obtaining intelligence information

c) The only safeguard from acts of terror is to locate, close with, and destroy those who follow terrorist ideologies and acts, no matter whether such operations are conducted locally, regionally, or globally

Theoretical speculation

a) If we assume that 10% of all of the world’s Muslim population of 1.48 billion follow fundamentalist ideologies, or support in one way or another acts of terror (including silence) (percentage estimate low), then 148 million Muslims (worldwide) are potentially fundamental extremists (passively or aggressively)

b) The removal of top terrorist leaders will not alter the course of fundamentalist ideologies, including their activities which involve terror or subjugation of non-Islamic cultures

Predictions

a) Islamic fundamentalists will continue to groom their children to succeed them in terrorist roles

b) Incidents of terrorist attacks will increase in frequency and ferocity

c) The global war on terror will be an on-going event for the next 100 years

Premises

a) The United States and Europe will continue to resist terrorist attacks, but they will do so haphazardly and with questionable long-term successes

b) Muslim populations will continue to increase and so too will the percentages of people who adopt fundamentalist ideologies

c) Muslim organizations will continue to do their work of money laundering and public relations

d) No substantial gain will be achieved by western societies so long as they continue to adhere to political correctness for the sake of appearing “democratic” and enlightened

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