The author uses his experience of the Middle East to justify his warning, but I would argue that a reading of history, including 1930s Germany, Bosnia, and other Genocides support his thesis. I think this could be discussed without getting too political - I'm interested in the warning signs and reading the tea leaves. I agree that the present rhetoric is dangerous, and similar to what clearly preceded the bad events above. Is the US heading toward another violent civil war? How do we avert this outcome?