Lets be honest about it. The moderate muslims don't matter and they never have. When ever there are those in the extreme who are willing to do the unthinkable, that there are more moderates makes no difference at all.
You hear about the majority of muslims being peaceful. That is quite true. But also quite irrelevant. The peaceful majority has always been irrelevant.
In Germany during WWII, the majority of germans were peaceful people. But that did not stop the Nazis from murdering 6 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant.
In the old Soviet Union, the majority of russians were peaceful people. That did not stop 20 million people from being killed. The peaceful majority were irrelevant.
In pre WWII and during WWII in Japan, the majority of japanese were peaceful people. That did not stop the Imperial Army from butchering its way across SE Asia killing millions, many with bayonets and shovels. The peaceful majority were irrelevant.
On 9/11/01 there were 2.3 million arab muslims living in the US. 19 radical muslims murdered almost 3,000 people and changed the fundamental fabris of our society. The peaceful majority was completely irrelevant. The peaceful majority were irrelevant.
Most intelligence services around the world estimate that radical muslims make up around 15% to 20% of the muslim population. That means 80% to 85% of the muslim population around the world is peaceful. But with a muslim population of 1.8 billion, that leaves 270-360 million radicals dedicated to the utter destruction of our civilization.
Most of you have seen me post on various topics, and should know that I am a fairly rational guy who does not promote hate, violence or favor war. But to expect normal warfare techniques to do anything at all against the threats we face is insanity. It hasn't worked in the decades we have been trying it. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that will change.
The only hope we have of not continuing this insanity is to strike fast, strike hard, and strike completely against any and all radical terrorists. This idea that you cut off the head of the snake is worthless. You burn the entire reptile.
If terrorists strike, you strike them down immediately. Then you destroy those who harbored or assisted them. Then you destroy those who funded them, whether they sell us oil or not. Both sides of the aisle in Washinton have clamored for action. But both sides have refused to call Saudi Arabia out on their participation in terrorism around the world. People celebrate Trump's ban on people from Iran, Iraq or whatever. Again, it is irrelevant. Did he ban people from Saudi Arabia? Of the 19 terrorists involved in 9/11, 15 were from Saudi Arabia. Why are they treated with kid gloves?
The difference between peace time and war time has become impossible to tell. Our politicians use the threat of attacks to erode our liberties, while doing little or nothing to change tactics or stop the next attack.
Want to stop it? Go after those who do it, those who help them, and those who finance them.
Yes, with "only" 15% to 20% of muslims being radicals, that leaves 1.44 to 1.53 BILLION peaceful muslims worldwide. They are completely irrelevant. It also means there are 270 to 360 million radicals who want us all dead. Make it too expensive to do, to help or to fund ever again.