NCJ Number
100083
Journal
New Yorker Dated: (July 8, 1985) Pages: 46-49,51-63
Date Published
1985
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Based on interviews with American and European diplomats and law enforcement officials, this article examines the growth of international terrorism and governmental response to the problem.
Abstract
After reviewing conflicts within the American Government over the appropriate response to terrorism, the author describes European attitudes toward Secretary of State Schultz's position that military force should be used against terrorist groups. Other areas of disagreement among and within countries are explored: whether some people are really terrorists or just youthful cranks, what constitutes terrorism, what causes terrorism, and who the terrorists are. This discussion contrasts European terrorists, characterized as middle-class, with fanatical Middle Eastern terrorists. Other areas analyzed include the relationship between terrorist groups and Soviet-bloc governments, who is gaining in the struggle between terrorists and governments, and cooperation among terrorist organizations. Excerpts from interviews provide insights into specific terrorist incidents and knowledgeable individuals' feelings about terrorism in Italy, West Germany, France, England, and the United States.