[semi-extrinsic]

If that was it, why are these terrorists not attacking Armenia? Or Zambia? Or Mexico? Or pretty much anywhere in Central and South America?

All those have a higher percentage of Christians in their populations than the US or anywhere in Western Europe, and they don't have the same level of anti-terrorism focus so are presumably easier targets.

Could it simply be that those countries haven't been bombing and invading places in the Middle East?

[jbarham]

> If that was it, why are these terrorists not attacking Armenia? Or Zambia? Or Mexico? Or pretty much anywhere in Central and South America?

These countries have negligible numbers of Muslims.

There have been multiple Islamic terrorist attacks in Tanzania (which borders Zambia) and Kenya, both of which have significant Muslim minorities. Not to mention the frequent attacks by Boko Haram et al in Nigeria and the perpetual civil war in Somalia, which is overwhelmingly Muslim.

[semi-extrinsic]

I'm not saying militant Islamism doesn't exist, but rather that the attacks have several underlying motivations, and that radicalization is more likely when there is a preexisting conflict.

Even the threats and attacks against cartoonists, as mentioned by another commenter, go beyond the simplistic "kill all infidels just because they exist".

[dionidium]

Why do you think you know more about why Al Qaeda and ISIS attack the West than Al Qaeda and ISIS? They have explicitly and repeatedly stated other reasons for their attacks on the West than those you claim. Why don't you believe them?

To put it more simply: when Danish cartoonists are threatened for offending Islam, is that also because of imperialism?

[TeMPOraL]

> They have explicitly and repeatedly stated other reasons for their attacks on the West than those you claim.

And why would you believe them? What they say on TV is also a weapon. People who don't come and negotiate but go straight to killing won't be posting their real goals on their website, they'll rather post something that helps further those goals.

[fineman]

"They" are also as cohesive as Anonymous.

[pharrington]

ISIS are known masters of propaganda.

[hyperliner]

It could be because those countries are not letting them in.