[Jim727]

Agreed on all counts, Tabs. The word "malignant" comes to mind.

When I say the threat is underestimated it's because we in the Western World like everything to exist in our time frames (wars take four years, right?) and to be wrapped up neatly (overtime until someone wins). Because of this we tend to frame this as a battle where some form of combat will defeat the enemy and we go on about our lives. What it really is, however, is a war of civilizations. The battle-space includes secular education and government, rights of individuals, etc. - basically the stuff of our Bill of Rights.

Our "conservative" faction has no stomach for the hearts-and-minds battle.
Our "liberal" faction has no stomach for the physical battle.

A clash of civilizations, not a clash of armies; very few understand the gravity of it all, I think.