He should just say the word "crusades" and save us the anticipation. What does he mean by "aggressive military'' response? The West has been doing that faithfully for a while now. The War in Iraq and Afghanistan being two of many examples. Does Bannon think the wars in Iraq were "not aggressive enough"? Does Bannon have no sympathy for the civilians killed by the hundreds of thousands due to the U.S.' political ego trips in the Middle East? Where's Bannon's empathy? Is he a sociopath? Or is his identity so solidified and rigid in who he "thinks he is as an American" he simply cannot "interpret" human beings who practice Islam as "human" like him and his loved ones?

The only fascism which has the means and capability to cause wide spread death on a large scale is the fascism Bannon subtly proposes while claiming Islam is the fascist one. Turning away Muslim immigrants/refugees who are fleeing war torn areas, much of which was spurred by U.S. & European involvement in these areas, precisely because they are people of Muslim faith is Fascism 101.

Shane has been apart of Pulitzer Prize winning news teams centering on U.S. & International Affairs. He has done extensive work on Russian interference in the U.S. 2016 election and U.S. involvement in the Middle East. Has written on interrogation, torture, and federal contracting. He seems objective enough.

What is the psychological power of Bannon asserting his world view as the "correct" and only alternative available?

He sounds like the Pope inspiring soldiers to fight in the Roman army for the crusades. Bannon is trying to inspire a return to glory in his alt right audience.

In my opinion, the key is to not engage these distorted world views that are only validated by giving them attention...but what is the solution? Bannon speaks to archaic and base fears of a conquering, exploitative society and finds the most resonance in the very identities which are most invested in said society and its domineering narratives. How to combat it?

Selective memory is amazing. Nationalism built in racism, intolerance, systematic oppression and the socio-economic and political crippling and exploitation of non-white groups is literally the "building blocks" of Western Europe and the United States. Does Bannon TRULY not understand this or consider this? Goes to show how at the end of the day, our identities override and influence our worldview in such an all enveloping way that any information which contradicts this view in many cases will not register. Chilling.

Bannon draws the audience and the reader into his dooms day world view whether they agree with its validity or not.

Careful! Can't accidentally step into the truth!

Bannon slides by the historic and modern forms of U.S. & European Imperialism which has so destabilized and undermined socio-economic and political prosperity in the Middle East. He brushes by the historical facts of animosity toward the U.S. and Europe being based in ill treatment by the West toward Muslim majority countries (Bannon is elite educated, so he must be aware of them, right? Does he truly not believe these historical truths are relevant or is he intentionally misleading a (perhaps) largely uneducated biased audience?) Moral ambiguity and political nuance leaves room for empathy and doesn't mesh well with racist, xenophobic and fascist rhetoric like a binary, "A Righteous Us vs an Evil Them" worldview does.

Populism Bells! Who are the "elites" and why would they not want Judeo-Christian tenets "defended" according to Bannon's world view?

I don't think Bannon is a practicing Christian (if it matters any) but he uses the historic and emotional appeal of Christianity as a political tool. Bannon sees Christianity as an imagined juxtaposition to Islam and uses this unspoken assumption to appeal to xenophobic, Islamophobic, and racist audiences.

Fascism needs conviction, but statistically flimsy and unfounded claims from Bannon. ISIL is not a "state" and has neither the means nor the capability to significantly overthrow or pose an "existential" threat to an European or a U.S. government. But the truth isn't convenient for ideologues. He has a habit (or strategy) of proclaiming fear based opinion as inevitable fact.

emotionally provocative language Bannon uses for a political purpose.

Bannon's website fuels an alt right audience who feeds on hatred and opposition toward the perceived Other. Bannon stirring up flames of fear and loathing isn't "righteous" reporting like he seems to believe. It only feeds generalized Islamophobia, paranoid and dangerous preconceived notations which incentives alt right fanatics to target Muslim Americans/Europeans they may encounter on a day to day basis.

Fear mongering

Is Bannon just spreading his far right ideology to whoever he thinks will be a willing and receptive audience?

Didn't some of the countries excluded from the ban, such as Saudi Arabia, have business ties to the Trump family? Since Bannon is such an alt right ideologue, what did he think of this political compromise?

Bannon is a popular figure, nationally and internationally, for being linked to the Trump campaign. However, he left (or was ousted) shortly after Trump took office. With Bannon's support Trump won a large section of alt right, very conservative U.S. voters.

Bannon is an ex-government official and a right wing public figure. Is his individual interpretations of Islam important enough to continue reading? The NYT seems to think so.