"Tell me where I have missed the intervening steps that led to this outcome, so I do not mistakenly follow."
The intervening steps ... ?
I don't think it went that far.
I think it was simple GREED and Grover Norquist went for
"the money".
So the MB bought a puppet, or a dupe that they could manipulate.
But that's just my guess.
It might be that Grover Norquist wants "the little people" weak and unarmed, since he might perceive them to be a "THREAT" to his perceived power.
But that's just my guess.
"... The best way to subvert an army is to take over its generals."
Maybe.
But ... when it comes to Muslim anything, TOTAL ANNIHILATION is what's called for.
We can't afford to mess around with those CRAZIES.
It's time to go OLD TESTAMENT on them, and NAPALM would be a good start.