ASTO boss Mike Burgess offers valuable insights into the confounding challenges of radical Islamic terrorism and rightly celebrates the success of his agency in smashing clandestine plotters before their murderous mayhem materialises. (“A chilling blueprint for terror”, ST, 28/6). As we focus on the determinants of human behaviour predisposing to concocting an act of unconscionable violence, high on the list would be personal physical strength, fitness, eyesight and a normal outward appearance, triggering minimal suspicion. Mentally, the villain might be profiled as adaptable, available, ideologically obsessed and totally obedient to the cause. An opportunity must arise which exposes targets with a greater than 50 per cent chance of achieving the wicked goal. Motivated to commit outrages against nonbelievers by a fear of their god, we must manipulate their fear against them. Terrorists have proven themselves fearless of Western courts and prisons, since being caught only results in a comfortable life in prison. In the Middle Ages, the churches generated much horror when burning ideological enemies at the stake. Any terrorist act today which randomly targets our citizens could be deemed treason, a hostile action against the state and optionally punished with the death penalty. This language of fear might be more impactful on the actions of brainwashed potential jihadists. Their fear of the supernatural might indeed be quelled by an imminent and more pressing threat to their existence, comfort and longevity. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 5July2026
