ndcent
New member
I disagree. It may have played a role but more likely the literal teachings of the Islamic religion and his upbringing contributed in a much greater way. He was after all investigated twice by the FBI.
Personally, I think the elephant in the room is the 24 hour new and social media coverage of these tragedies as it encourages self-fulfilling prophesies by giving these individuals a platform for martyrdom. I can't fathom a different reason why this person would feel the need to act out hatred against the West as he was born and grew up in the West and likely never experienced the life of an average middle easterner in a war torn Islamic country.
What does ISIS want? They want a holy war against the West. Since they are in no way truly able to fight a military war against "the Infidel", they are doing the next best thing keeping themselves in the 24 hour news cycle, driving fear and Islamophobia in the West and hoping that "we" will persecute Muslims living in the West and this will drive the Western Muslims to do their bidding for them. It's a tight rope walk especially when the wind blows.
Sounds like so many here want to give ISIS what they want as you describe it.