The Last Crusade: Americanism and the Islamic Reformation

The United States, argues Michael A. Palmer, is engaged in a political crusade to modernize the Islamic world. Americanism is in the vanguard of modernity's relentless advance, promoting democratic institutions and capitalist markets. To compete, Islamic societies must adopt a more secular and materialistic approach, as have the West and South and East Asia. But these principles conflict with Islamic fundamentals.

American actions have not provoked this conflict, nor can American withdrawal end it, Palmer contends. Islam's failure to modernize is the root cause of the current situation. Bin Laden and other jihadists understand, correctly, that if Islam is to avoid the secularism and materialism that come with modernity, they must Islamize the West by force.