Our task is terrible, total, universal, and merciless destruction.

House of Lords - House of Commons Joint Committee on Human Rights
Counter-Extremism: Second Report of Session 2016–17

The Government’s proposals rest on the assumption that there is an escalator that starts with religious conservatism and ends with support for violent jihadism, and that violence is therefore best tackled by curtailing or placing restrictions on religious conservatism. However, it is by no means proven or agreed that religious conservatism, in itself,correlates with support for violent jihadism. The aim should be to tackle extremism that leads to violence, not to suppress views with which the Government disagrees.

Absolutely goddamn right. This report came out this week. You won't read much about it in the papers. The select committee system is the great legacy of the late, lamented Norman St John-Stevas.

Dare we think that jihadi radicalism is more about disaffected young men than it is about theology? Nihilism ain't new.