Since 9/11, much has been made of how the very values the West holds dear — specifically, our “small-l” liberality — make it supremely vulnerable to attacks by barbarians such as al Qaeda and ISIS. It’s not only a reasonable fear, but a very real concern: whenever there have been attacks, they almost always exploit these weaknesses.

Much less, however, has been made of our enemies’ parallel strengths and weaknesses; specifically, that the atavistic, fanatical, violent, and narrow-minded values that animate them (and make them dangerous) severely handicap them economically, scientifically, militarily, and culturally. I argued along these lines a few weeks ago, when I pointed out that ISIS’ ability to build things — including weapons and the economy necessary to purchase them — pales in comparison to their ability to destroy. And if a news item from al-Arabyia is to be believed, ISIS seems intent on doubling down on the problem: