The spread of hostile memes

Radicalization is brought about by a set of hostile memes, spreading throughout a post-rational population via mechanisms simultaneously as ancient as humanity and as modern as the global communications revolution.

While we may often disagree with Mr. Robb on prescriptive matters and his view of policy options; we can rarely fault his analysis of the phenomena which he has sought to describe.

We thus also take his point regarding the limits of existing knowledge well.

“The dynamics of this model of warfare dictate that for every group identified … there are dozens more in formation or fully functional without direct connections to known sources of danger.”

After all, those responsible for the UK 7/7 attacks had been under surveillance but not investigated as a priority due to a lack of resources.

This is the stuff of the nightmares which drive us...