From Carlos to Bin Laden: How Terrorism's Playbook Changed
A review traces the career of Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, known as Carlos the Jackal, who symbolized an era of terrorism aimed at gaining attention rather than mass casualties. The author, a former counterterrorism official, contrasts this with the post-2000 shift toward catastrophic violence exemplified by al Qaeda and the 9/11 attacks. The piece reflects on how this transformation reshaped U.S. homeland security and global counterterrorism strategies.
Kayyem, who joined the Justice Department in 1997 and later served on a congressional terrorism commission, witnessed the shift from Carlos's era of symbolic violence to bin Laden's focus on mass fatalities. The earlier generation sought public attention over casualties, using operations like hijackings to advance political goals such as Palestinian statehood.
Warrick's biography of the Venezuelan operative arrives as the U.S. marks 25 years since the 9/11 attacks. The book profiles Carlos, pictured in 1990 with his wife and daughter, contrasting his celebrity-driven campaign with the catastrophic model that subsequently reshaped domestic security and surveillance policies.
This retrospective could prompt security officials to reassess whether current frameworks adequately address both symbolic and catastrophic terrorist motivations. The historical contrast may influence public debate on surveillance and homeland defense priorities, as readers and policymakers reflect on how past figures like Carlos shaped institutional responses that still govern civil liberties and threat assessment today.