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rational security, chatter, law fair no bull, and the aftermath.

And this runs through like a bright line through the whole history of the Islamic state.

Is it's audacity?

Jihadists are used to speaking the language of weakness.

The West is so strong, we are so weak, we cannot possibly reestablish the caliphate.

We will try and try, but it's generations of struggle to come.

The power and his successors spoke the language of strength.

Even when it was absurd to do so, they proclaimed the Islamic state in 2006 when they controlled no territory.

And they were beaten to a pulp in 2007, 2008.

And yet kept promising we will make a comeback.

It was a consistent message of strength.

There was almost a field of dreams type approach.

They kept willing it into existence.

And I think for many of the younger generation, that was attractive.

Especially when it started to become a reality.

With the Syrian civil war, they began to take territory on the ground.

And then victory, wed success, more recruits, more money.

...