Carlos the Jackal and the Return of Terror for Hire | Joby Warrick

About this episode

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Joby Warrick covered national security for the Washington Post for nearly three decades. In his new book, The Jackal, he turns to Ilich Ramírez Sánchez—Carlos the Jackal—the Venezuelan who in the 1970s and '80s was the most famous terrorist in the world. Matt talks with Warrick about Carlos’s rise, from the audacious 1975 OPEC siege in Vienna to his years as a gun for hire in the Soviet bloc, and about the book’s sharpest argument: that Carlos was less a true believer than a narcissist in love with his own legend. They close on why his story matters now as the deniable, mercenary terror Carlos pioneered is back, in the contract attacks Russia and Iran are running across the West. Only this time, the hired hands have no wish to be famous. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs. Order The Jackal: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Jackal/Joby-Warrick/9781668070550 Learn more on Joby’s website: https://www.jobywarrick.com/ Follow Joby on X: https://x.com/JobyWarrick Please share this episode using these links Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/7pIpb Spotify: https://shortu