No amount of appeasement to the US works. They do not value the same moralities which the rest of humanity does. It is all about power and control. As brother Mastan elucidated quite eloquently and you also detailed in your experiences growing up.
Americans value courage, bravado, might is right, physical beauty, the ideal human figure, and other aggressive and vain traits. They view weakness or meekness as an illness. They have no pity for the poor, downtrodden, and oppressed.
I read in Henry Kissinger's memoirs a very interesting quote, he said "
We should not let any country become communist due to the irresponsibility of its people."
The American knows what is better for a people, and by extension the world, more than these people can know for themselves. Despite the slogans of freedom and democracy, neither are valued for others, and both are exemplified only in Americans and their chosen allies/puppets.
This is why no amount of appeasement will work. America will bring democracy and freedom whether you like it or not, and then after they secure their objectives and transfer of resources, they will leave.
With the Taliban, they simply ran awry of the Afghan public, it all went downhill after the MOAB fiasco, and once financial hardships hit the homeland, they could no longer continue the war of attrition.
I have read it, and also read numerous supporting articles and counter articles about it in the late 90s and early 2000s.
I quite enjoy Edward Said's rebuttal to Huntington. He offers a unique perspective as an Arab Christian, who is very much obliged and indebted to Islam and is fond of Muslims in general. Read it if you have a chance.
https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/clash-ignorance/
Here brother you mention the Hadith about the alliance between Christians and Muslims against a common foe. It is quoted by Imran N. Hosein avidly, another personality who I know quite well personally, but whom I fear has really gone off the deep end, Islamically. He always mentions the first part of it but neglects the latter part.
After the victory, Christians will attribute success to the cross but a Muslim will tear it down saying it is due to Allah swt, after which the Christians will backstab and attack the Muslims.
We don't know the exact details, so Allahu alim about the enemy and other details.
Going back to the 'Clash of Civilizations,' it is a bogus incendiary piece, it was a set up for the war on terror i.e. death and destruction on Muslim countries, as we were viewed as the next potential rival who could challenge the West.
Times have changed now however that the Muslim world lies in ruins and the focus has turned to China.
It is a golden opportunity for us to rise up, fix our problems, unify, and fortify, while the Eye of Sauron is currently focused elsewhere. It will inevitably turn its ghastly gaze on us again.