Jihadism has been an abject failure, but what does Western success look like? (original) (raw)

The global jihadist movement has been a failure, albeit a costly one. Osama bin Laden’s attack on the United States led to the destruction of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the erosion of al-Qaida and ultimately his own death. The putative caliphate announced by Islamic State never managed to expand beyond select parts of Syria and Iraq and has been in retreat virtually ever since leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made the announcement. Western counterterrorism resolve remains resolute. Most Muslim countries remain US allies. Western civilisation is not on the verge of collapse ― at least, not because of anything jihadists have done. And the majority of Muslims remain ambivalent, disinterested or opposed to the jihadist objectives set in their name.