ABSTRACT
At its most rudimentary level, conducting a terrorist operation consists of following a generically created, yet ultimately effective, cycle. This cycle is known as the terrorist attack cycle and has been analyzed and reworked by countless counterterrorism officials since the inception of the threat. Although some discuss the possibility of it consisting of six steps and others, four, the reality is that at the cycle’s core lies a very general yet germane set of actions that are required to launch and accomplish an effective attack. Thus, an essential element in counterterrorism is understanding this cycle. Doing so helps officials better prepare, respond, and possibly interdict the next terrorist attack.
