ABSTRACT
Despite wide universal acceptance of terrorism as an international crime, confusion over a precise definition of terrorism and its corollary state-sponsored terrorism has hampered any effective development in the discourse regarding acceptable and permitted countermeasures. General agreement by states at a philosophical level on what constitutes terrorism masks serious disagreements in practice. Not surprising since factors contributing to the utility of terrorism are many. In its simplest terms, terrorism as a weapon has proven to be cheap and to have a synergistic effect in its impact. Like other forms of low-intensity warfare, terrorism is ambiguous. The fact that it throws its victims off balance and that they must grope for an appropriate means of response, or a determination if any response is appropriate, only increases its effectiveness.
