All these points make sense and I don't believe moderate Muslims are accepting of the radicals and their work. I fully expect that there are plenty of condemnations from the moderates, even if Western press miss it.
Even so, the radical elements are winning the marketing campaign. They are pushing the impression that this is a struggle of culture and faith. They are also aided by regional states who try to leverage anti-western sentiment for political gain.
Regardless, non-muslims are becoming conditioned by these acts of terror. Even if incorrect, the average person doesn't have the wherewithal to delve into the details and discover the truth behind the radicals' actions (stupid selfish politicians don't help here). So in a sense, the moderates have to find a way to make "noticeable " pushback and do it repeatedly.
All these points make sense and I don't believe moderate Muslims are accepting of the radicals and their work. I fully expect that there are plenty of condemnations from the moderates, even if Western press miss it.
Even so, the radical elements are winning the marketing campaign. They are pushing the impression that this is a struggle of culture and faith. They are also aided by regional states who try to leverage anti-western sentiment for political gain.
Regardless, non-muslims are becoming conditioned by these acts of terror. Even if incorrect, the average person doesn't have the wherewithal to delve into the details and discover the truth behind the radicals' actions (stupid selfish politicians don't help here). So in a sense, the moderates have to find a way to make "noticeable " pushback and do it repeatedly.