Intelligence Squared The Remarkable True Story of The Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970’s, with Jason Burke (Part Two)
Jan 5, 2026
In this engaging conversation, Jason Burke, an esteemed international security correspondent and author, dives into the turbulent world of 1970s extremism. He discusses the notorious figures like Leila Khaled and Carlos the Jackal and their audacious attacks that captivated a global audience. Burke highlights the shift from secular leftist movements to Islamist ideologies and how these changes shaped terrorist narratives. He also examines the dynamics of martyrdom versus sacrifice in radical circles and reflects on the lasting legacy of that explosive decade.
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Flamboyant Fixer With CIA Links
- Ali Hassan Salami enjoyed a flamboyant, Elvis-listening lifestyle while acting as Arafat's close aide and CIA contact.
- He went on honeymoon with a bigamous Miss Universe wife paid for by the CIA, illustrating mixed loyalties and intrigue.
Diverging Trajectories Of 70s Violence
- Western leftist revolutionary violence flared in the early 1970s and had largely disappeared by the early 1980s.
- In the Middle East a similar start moved toward Islamist movements, culminating in figures like Osama bin Laden rising from 1979 onward.
Ideological Repackaging Drives Recruitment
- Ideology can be repackaged: grievances from secular left movements were later expressed in Islamist vocabulary.
- That new vocabulary offered identity and mass appeal when secular movements had failed, easing the Islamist rise.