ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the problems stemming from the different visions and perceptions that Americans and Europeans have on how to define the threat posed by terrorism, and particularly on the instruments needed to deal with this threat. What is especially important is that although there is a growing consensus over how to define the threat addressed here, namely Jihadist-Salafist terrorism, transatlantic disputes over how to deal with it are increasing due to a number of issues such as the Guantanamo prison, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) flights using European airports, and the war in Iraq, among others. 1 Traditionally international politics have been characterized by differing perspectives and perceptual distortions among nations but, as Professor Robert Jervis states, these misperceptions are perhaps more dangerous among allies than among adversaries because allies have high expectations of mutual understanding and cooperation. 2
