Chapter 8 Summary and Analysis

Terrorism is not a new phenomenon, and it is not the sole property of Islamic extremists. Terrorism has been around for ages and has been employed by many cultures. From the Irish Republican Army to Palestinians and Jews, to the Basques in Spain, terrorism is an unfortunate part of life on Earth today. Although most people would agree that terrorism is a global problem, few people can agree on the definition of terrorism and where to draw the line between state-sponsored terrorism and war. Varying definitions of terrorism include "intimidation through violence," "any action intended to kill or seriously harm civilians or non-combatants, with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling action by a government or international organization," and "unprovoked attack against civilian non-combatants away from any theater of war by men or women not working for a power openly...