James Forsyth James Forsyth

Why, in the end, we will defeat Islamist extremism

This report from the Washington Post detailing the tales of refugees from the Swat valley shows why, eventually, we will triumph against the Taliban and their ilk:

“As the refugees begin streaming out of Swat and the neighboring Buner district in northwest Pakistan, they carry with them memories of the indignities and horrors inflicted by occupying Taliban forces — locking women inside their homes, setting donkeys on fire — as they tried to force residents to accept a radical version of Islam. “

These groups are simply too extreme to maintain popular support for any amount of time. The Taliban in Pakistan have had success in large part because they have allied their cause to that of social justice. But when they gain power, their real agenda becomes all too apparent, alienating the public.

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