If Islamic State was directly responsible for the attacks in Paris that have killed more than 130 people, it is a serious change in strategy.
"It's not just about inspiring any more, but motivating," Patrick Skinner, a former CIA official now with the consulting firm Soufan Group, told the Financial Times. "They are projecting their terror further and more deliberately."
Indeed, coordinating at least eight terrorists for attacks on six locations is a whole different level of sophistication than urging Canadian Muslims to carry out random hit-and-runs on men in uniform.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.