spoiler:
If the anarchists’ history is any indication, it is unreasonable to
expect jihadism to die out anytime soon. Even if the movement’s most
influential leaders are killed, their vision will no doubt live on. Many
of the most famous jihadists — bin Laden, Azzam, al-Zarqawi, al-Awlaki
and the Blind Sheikh, to name a few — are already dead, yet jihadism is
anything but. Because these figures were killed at the height of their
international influence, it could even be argued that their sway will
fade less after their demise than it would have if they had lived on,
gradually losing standing to younger, more ambitious leaders. Either
way, jihadism is here to stay. And as conflict continues to grip much of
the Muslim world, jihadists will have no trouble finding sanctuary in
places that offer shelter and a means to keep plotting and propagating
their beliefs.