Perhaps the answer is bound up with China – and our inability to focus on more than a single problem at once.
Instead of seeking yet more powers, the Government should use those already at its disposal to nip extremism in the bud.
It feeds the homeless, does inter-faith work and welcomes dignitaries – including Malia Bouattia; a Vice-Chair of Stop the War, and Jeremy Corbyn, the local MP.
Without this Data Communications Bill, excitable European judges could fatally undermine intelligence gathering capabilities.
We scratch and scrabble around looking for solutions to the challenge. But this is the key.
On this and much else, the son of a bus driver from Pakistan is more likely to deliver than the former stockbroker from Sevenoaks.
Alistair Burt’s remarks while visiting our country represented a significant adjustment of the British approach to combatting terrorism.