ABSTRACT
This part of the book takes the focus away from the policing model outlined in the past four chapters. In the next three chapters, we will look at the big picture to get a sense of how contemporary issues may impact our future. This chapter will transition from the earlier emphasis on extremism to illustrate how larger forces shape our understanding of terrorism. These forces include the possibility of alliances that are (or will be) forming, and the implications of the universal-or cosmic-Holy War that some desire. Before doing this, it may be helpful to first take a step back to assess how we got where we are. This approach recognizes that explaining past circumstances is a considerable exercise. Thus, it is beyond the scope of this book to provide a historical account of this complex subject. Instead, I will simply discuss the underlying “logic” and key contemporary incidents.
