Bin Laden's strategy explained

This article written for Daily Kos helped clarify my thinking about what Bin Laden's goals and plans are.

From the conclusion:

We need to realize that we play to the same audience as Bin Laden: those Muslims trying to choose between the twin dreams of the Caliphate and of finding their own place in the world economy. Anything that persuades them that the world is open to them works in our favor. Anything that closes the door on them works for Bin Laden.

Most of all, we Americans need to keep a leash on our own radicals. They are not working in our interests any more than Bin Laden is working in the interests of ordinary Muslims. The extremists on both sides serve each other, not the people they claim to represent. The cycle of attack-and-reprisal strengthens radicals on both both sides at the expense of those in the middle who just want to live their lives.

In the face of the next attack, be slow to embrace radical, violent, or angry solutions. The center must hold.

To which I can only add that continued economic disparity between the wealthy and poor people of this world contributes to the rift. We must work to distribute wealth more equally to all people, regardless of race, religion, or heritage.