Especially if they are smart enough to realize they are likely to fail
Are they likely to fail? They are not going to fail unless the people who want them to fail (most of the world) make them fail. Being able to defeat them is not enough. They must actually be defeated. Is this going to happen?
Compare with startup founders. Most startups fail, yes? Therefore if every would-be startup founder is smart enough etc., then we don’t get Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, …
Are they likely to fail? They are not going to fail unless the people who want them to fail (most of the world) make them fail. Being able to defeat them is not enough. They must actually be defeated. Is this going to happen?
Compare with startup founders. Most startups fail, yes? Therefore if every would-be startup founder is smart enough etc., then we don’t get Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, …
No-one ever won a war by wishing their enemies would recognise they can’t win. ISIS have a cause for which they are not merely striving to become stronger or making an extraordinary effort, they are shutting up and doing the impossible.