This is actually a very optimistic picture. If this article is correct, then muslim terrorism is not much more dangerous these days, than terrorism from other small groups inspired by random radical ideologies. Also, if this picture is correct, it is difficult to imagine a nuclear capability of such a terrorist group.
I wonder whether it is possible to verify that Bin Laden essentially stayed away from anti-Soviet resistance in the Afghanistan, as the author seems to claim. The standard mainstream orthodoxy is that he did a lot against Soviets back then, but we did not hear anything about him (or about mullah Omar) in the 1980-s, so perhaps he was not really involved...
He did not do "a lot" against the Soviets, but his participation was more than what the article mentioned. This is not a comprehensive overview of bin Laden's CV. :-)
I am not sure how dangerous terrorism is now compared to the 1990s, for example. After 9/11 and the anthrax attacks immediately afterwards, there was no terrorist attack of nationwide importance. However, there were terrorist attacks of local importance, such as the DC snipers. And the anti-terrorist services learned to work better, so if we want to look at all attempts, not just the successful ones, the picture may change.
I would say the article is more on the optimistic side.
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I wonder whether it is possible to verify that Bin Laden essentially stayed away from anti-Soviet resistance in the Afghanistan, as the author seems to claim. The standard mainstream orthodoxy is that he did a lot against Soviets back then, but we did not hear anything about him (or about mullah Omar) in the 1980-s, so perhaps he was not really involved...
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I am not sure how dangerous terrorism is now compared to the 1990s, for example. After 9/11 and the anthrax attacks immediately afterwards, there was no terrorist attack of nationwide importance. However, there were terrorist attacks of local importance, such as the DC snipers. And the anti-terrorist services learned to work better, so if we want to look at all attempts, not just the successful ones, the picture may change.
I would say the article is more on the optimistic side.