It appears that the cutting edge thinkers in state intelligence agencies are starting to adopt the global guerrillas approach to next generation warfare. Unfortunately, they are about two years behind this site (and it is unlikely to make a difference given that defense spending continues to focus on China and domestic security boils down to data-mining). Some of the big ideas borrowed from this site (;->) that are now getting currency include open source warfare, bazaar micro-markets, and self-generating communities. From a closed-door briefing in Washington:
The group, from the Interior Ministry's General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), spoke at length of how jihadist groups are becoming much more dynamic, fluid, and diffuse, coming together to cooperate on specific goals and targets. Unlike the al Qaeda of old, these are local, autonomous, "self-radicalizing" jihadist cells, not controlled from overseas. They rely heavily on virtual networks and training, through the Internet, and then shift into actual, operational networks. The Internet is "the cement" of these new terrorist networks, the analysts stressed. Another trend seen by Dutch intelligence is a worrisome drop in age among participants, with increasing numbers of teenagers, often with petty crime records. Other trends include the recruitment of women and western converts (USNews).
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