Islamist Terrorism: Eight Years Later

Almost eight years to the day since September 11, three British Muslims were convicted this week of plotting to bomb seven airliners in flight over the Atlantic Ocean, an act that could have killed more people more dramatically than the events of 9/11. After the most expensive counterterrorism investigation in British history, the case indicates that Islamic extremists may now be a greater threat to the United Kingdom than they are to the United States. It raises other issues as well. Did US authorities jeopardize the investigation by blowing the whistle too soon? What’s the state of international cooperation on counterterrorism? And why are so many young British Muslims becoming radicalized? Is it a function of British society? What about the US war in Afghanistan?