Ms. Kukay
GSW 1120
Dec. 3, 2015
Radical Islam vs. The World: A Historical Prescription for How the West Will Win
Around the world, Islamic Fundamentalism, or Radical Islam, is growing in numbers and influence. By definition, Radical Islam is a “militant, politically activist ideology whose ultimate goal is to create a worldwide community, or caliphate, of Muslim believers.” (ESTES par. 1). This ideology is in direct conflict with Western, and other, belief systems around the world. The concurrent rise of terrorism perpetrated by these radicals is largely being carried out by a group known as “ISIS.” This expansive, growing sect of radicals and their horrific acts have failed to garner sufficient, sustained attention from the …show more content…
This prompted a declaration of war from France and Great Britain in 1939 (Grant 296). Hitler used Blitzkrieg tactics, or mobile warfare that “combined air power and armoured divisions to achieve rapid victory.” (Grant 296). From 1939 to 1941, these lightning campaigns helped Hitler control most of Europe, proving the success of using swift, harsh military to produce decisive victory (Grant 296). As Hitler gained more territory throughout Europe, he executed the conquered people, especially Slavs and Jews, or forced them to work in German war factories, even as their own countries were depleted of food and raw materials (“Germany” par. 355). These acts alone accounted for millions of …show more content…
As in World War Two, the U.S. and Soviet Union likely will not engage Radical Islam in a large-scale, swift and decisive manner until the powers feel more threatened nationally.
It was not until the U.S. and Soviet Union entered World War Two that the tide began to change. The Soviet Union was forced to engage after being attacked in 1941, as Germany sought agricultural Eastern Europe as a needed strategic resource for its industrial expansion; the U.S. was forced to engage that same year after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor to neutralize the U.S. Pacific Fleet that would otherwise jeopardize its chances to acquire oil and rubber in Malaya and the Dutch East Indies (Grant 196). This is when many view the war as taking on an “unprecedented scale of savagery.” (Grant