Dude, I have read Chomsky among others. Recently, even.
The "evil bastards" and "insane scumbags" are the leaders, the sources of influence. You're absolutely correct in the analogy, but that isn't the point. The guys in the planes were potential contributors, even middle-class professionals in America. Their fanaticism wasn't the crime, their actions were. Their actions were by order of their leaders. That is the real crime.
Omar and bin Laben are modern Hitlers. I don't think that is an exageration.
We seem to closely agree, though we state it differently. Your last paragraph might have been mine, if I were better able to express my thoughts. Unfortunately, my strengths are in action.