A failure of imagination (intelligence, WMDs, and "virtual Jihad") /
Scott Atran
- 2006
In the wake of recent terrorist events several reports have been produced that condemn the "status quo" mentality of intelligence organizations and generally recommend further vertical integration of intelligence gathering, analysis, and operations. This paper argues that these are not promising developments given the transformation of Jihadist networks into forms of leaderless resistance, and suggests that Britain's experience during the Second World War provides useful lessons on creative thinking, decentralised expertise, and partially autonomous approaches.