"Kepel examines the impact of global terrorism and the ensuing military operations to stem its tide. He questions the United States' ability to address the Middle East challenge with Cold War rhetoric, while revealing the fault lines in terrorist ideology and tactics. Finally, he proposes a way out of the Middle East quagmire that triangulates the interests of Islamists, the West, and the Arab and Muslim ruling elites. That path leads through Muslim immigrant communities in the West--the ultimate battlefield where the struggle for the democratization of Islamic societies will be won or lost"--Dust jacket.

Maps on endpages.

Introduction -- The failure of the Oslo peace -- The neoconservative revolution -- Striking at the faraway enemy -- Al Queda's resilience -- Saudi Arabia in the eye of the storm -- The calamity of nation-building in Iraq -- The battle for Europe -- Conclusion.