While I agree with the central thesis of the report described in the article, that the resolution of middle eastern conflicts will have no bearing on ending terrorism, I disagree with the underlying premise.  The statement throws the blame for terrorism at the United States and implies that Europe would be completely at peace but for the policies of the USA.  It is more of the stupidity of the leftist elements of the EU(the entire EU structure?).  Terrorists are after Europe as much as they are after the US.  The West is their chosen victim and anyone and anywhere connected will suffer the brunt of the terrorist onslaught.

Arguments of the terrorist supporters of the mid-east or their leftist sympathizers in the EU or the US ring hollow.  Terrorists need no cause and care nothing for diplomacy.  They seek targets of opportunity which are those least prepared.  Europe may be the least prepared and proximate geographically, with a host of sympathizers for the cause.  Internal security for Europe would entail thought which EU leaders do not embrace.

 @Kapitein Andre

"contemporary Islam generally (i.e. from the collective standpoint) is aggressive, supremacist, and expansionist."

I'm afraid it's not just contemporary. It's been like that ever since Mohammed's times. We only didn't notice it for the last 200 years as most of the islamic expansion was restricted to Africa (like today's Sudan still is a good sample of peaceful Arab advance), due to a high birth rate in Europe, resulting in emigration not imigration and because Arabs couldn't lie hand on any European technology - oil was  no trading good and then like today - they didn't have any industry worth that name where work and ideas could be molded into advanced products and ultimately produce wealth.

And - probably - because their societies were deprived of the latter, they  basically  had no time to focus  on  spreading their peaceful religion, being  fully  occupied with working to feed their families. No time for jihad, because jihad doesn't feed the family. Supposedly that changed when oil became a trading good, providing oil-rich Arab countries with a new type of "jizha". The infidel's easy-to-collect money, already appreciated  by Mohammed and his followers. Money used then and today to spread the religion of peace. (Ever wondered who finances Europe's mosques?)

[S]ome of the conflicts in the Middle East are mentioned extensively in the rhetoric uttered by the Islamist terrorists. However, the resolution of these conflicts would have no effect on ending global terror, which is functionally disconnected from these conflicts.

I agree. Unfortunately, while many Islamic states may have legitimate greivances against various Western states, contemporary Islam generally (i.e. from the collective standpoint) is aggressive, supremacist, and expansionist.