But I wonder if you've ever traveled to the Middle East?
Or have you talked extensively with Americans who've worked in Saudi Arabia? . . . especially, for example, single men.
1) In much of the Middle East--especially Arab cultures, it is fairly common for two friends to stand virtually nose to nose--VERY CLOSE FACE TO FACE--yelling at each other so vigorously that Americans passing by might think they were ready to come to blows any second. And they, from their standpoint, are not even very emotional--just having a calm chit chat. THEY ARE AN EMOTIONAL PEOPLE--sometimes at their calmest.
Blood feuds can go on and on for generations mostly out of petty pride.
Your norms and standards for emotionalism; radicalism; fierce feelings etc. may not apply as you assume they might for those cultures.
Also, sociologically and psychologically--it is fairly easy for folk on the quiet end of things to flip suddenly to the radical end of things--this is true in almost any group or ism or belief context--but all the more true in emotionally intense cultures.
A wide number of things can trigger such a flip. It can be a personal experience that fosters stronger identification with just one element or aspect; one picture, image, incident, saying, action of a radical leader or incident. It can be a trauma personal, group or national or international. It can be a function of personal isolation, loneliness, a sense of helplessness, depression, despair. Suddenly there's hope by investing in THE CAUSE.
I don't know that Queen Noor is a great example. She leads a rather special life though she seems well informed and in touch with her people.
But take some professor or other professional person in a university town in central U.S. Bible belt. Assume that the professor--male or female--had become moderately good friends with various Christians or whatever in their university town.
Suddenly on the professor's doorstep appears an agent. He notes that in the old country, a relative has been murdered by an Israeli agent or purportedly by a U.S. agent. Or maybe nothing even so personal or dramatic. . . maybe there's just a request for shelter, protection, hiding. . . and the mention of some connection with a trusted relative--perhaps one who's loaned money for education and getting set up in the U.S.
What will the professor do--say no out of hand? I doubt it. Will the professor be vulnerable to being more radicalized in that situation? Probably. Will the professor be likely to become a real RADICAL? It depends on a LOT of factors--only ONE of which is the manner in which the U.S. Government handles itself in the current war on terrorism. But it's likely to be easier than one might think.
You are probably somewhat influenced by the difficulty with which Christians are changed into radical Christians in the U.S. or the ease that atheists and agnostics are changed into radical Christians. That's not a good comparison for many reasons. The Islamic subculture is very different on many counts. Their psychology individual and group is very different on many counts.
In answer to your questions, yes, I have traveled to the Middle East. Israel and Egypt.
Yes, I have talked extensively with an American who worked in Saudi Arabia. My husband. He worked In Saudi for 2 1/2 yrs.