Josh Marshall points out that the anti-Islamic fear mongering being perpetrated by right-wing activists is hurting America’s counter-terrorism efforts. He concludes: “the furor of opposition to the Cordoba House project and the spasm of Islamophobia is the best recruiting tool that bin Laden and his imitators could possibly hope for.”
Marshall implies that the activists slandering Muslims are unwittingly aiding and abetting Islamists and terrorists. I’m not sure it’s entirely unintentional – or, at least, undesirable.
Those who benefit from “holy war”, whether actual or rhetorical, politically, in terms of fund-raising or marketing, have an active interest in escalation and provocation.
Bin Laden isn’t just a recruitment tool for Al Qaeda and like terrorist groups. He’s also a recruitment tool for those who would claim him as a political adversary – in distinction from those who view him, instead, as a marginal sociopath, failed leader and criminal on the run.
The stronger Bin Laden appears, politically, the more attractive certain right wing policies and candidates seem.