What in the world do violent Muslims think acts of terror are gaining them?
They have no tactical purpose?
They have no strategic purpose?
Their have no revenge purpose because who they harm are usually those that did no harm to them?
I am a life long military historian, and I see no motivation but pure evil and hate as a possibility?
What are they gaining? So far, exactly what they wanted. Actually everything has gone far better than they ever expected.
They have both tactical and strategic purpose. Western responses have tactical but not strategic purposes for the most part. Actually their tactical responses further the strategic goals of the terrorists. That's why the terrorists are 'winning' (by winning I mean getting what they want). Seeing them as a 'mindless evil' is not part of the solution.
If you want to read about it in their own words read
The Management of Savagery (written late 1990s)
I made a thread about it here
http://www.religiousforums.com/threads/the-management-of-savagery.181748/#post-4508913 that gives support to what I said above, quotes, etc. so I won't repeat them here.
*edit* actually I will
Some of their goals:
a) Polarise the population (you're either with us, or you're with the terrorists/crusader zionist alliance)
b) Damage the economies of the enemy and the psychological health of their society.
c) Attracting new jihadis by showing them that a small group of people can cause great damage to the Crusaders
d) Radicalise young Muslims. The establishment of violent jihad will radicalise the youth exponentially more than education during times of peace.
e) Through warfare, prepare a generation of leaders who will have the organisational skills to capitalise on 'savagery' i.e. the breakdown of society. The test of battle will allow the best to rise and improve their capabilities.
f) Cause the collapse of societies in Muslim lands - creating the conditions of savagery that will allow them to accomplish their new caliphate.
Been pretty successful ain't they?