9/11: The West still refuses to understand

The article argues that the Western world, 25 years after 9/11 and following the events of October 7, 2023, continues to misunderstand the core ideology driving Islamist terrorism. The author, who wrote an article for The Wall Street Journal after 9/11 titled “How Suicide Bombers Are Made,” contends that the West prefers to attribute terrorism to factors like economic deprivation or grievances, rather than confronting the radical Islamist ideology that glorifies violence and martyrdom. This ideology, exemplified by groups like Hamas and Al-Qaeda, seeks the restoration of Islamic supremacy and rejects Western secular values. The article highlights that figures like Mohammed Atta, a 9/11 hijacker, were educated and integrated into Western society, yet embraced this radical vision. Despite repeated attempts at political solutions and Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, Palestinian society, for example, continues to expose children to educational materials that glorify violence and martyrdom, with one elementary-school lesson teaching girls to recite, “We desire martyrdom; the enemy fears us.” The author concludes that the West's refusal to understand this ideology is perceived as weakness by those who seek its defeat, inviting further attacks.