One thing I wonder about, but have no basis for knowing, is whether it was easier ten years ago for Al Qaeda to convince the 9/11 attackers that they would have

One thing I wonder about, but have no basis for knowing, is whether it was easier ten years ago for Al Qaeda to convince the 9/11 attackers that they would have the adulation and gratitude of the Muslim community at large. At that time, terrorism in the Muslim public's mind was mostly associated with Palestinians fighting Israeli occupation, and the 9/11 attack was framed as a blow against U.S. occupation of the Arabian Peninsula. I'm sure many potential terrorists have since heard their friends, family, and neighbors comment unfavorably on the 9/11 attacks and their consequences for Muslims and for the image of Islam. That might hurt recruiting among people who are smart and social enough to be part of a large-scale attack.