Combating Terrorism: A Conceptual Framework for Targeting at the Operational Level

The events of 11 September 2001 have thrust the United States to the forefront ofthe international struggle against terrorism. Terror is no longer a retail business; al-Qaedahas taken it to the wholesale level. In the past, as in the earlier history of the IrishRepublican Army (IRA), the purpose of terrorists was indeed to create fear, but also toachieve political aims of a limited nature. Even when they were at their most murderous,the IRA remained politicians, albeit criminal ones. They h...