Is terrorism just brutal, unthinking violence?
No. Experts agree that there is almost always a strategy behind terrorist actions. Whether it takes the form of bombings, shootings, hijackings, or assassinations, terrorism is neither random, spontaneous, nor blind; it is deliberate use of violence against civilians for political or religious ends. Is there a definition of terrorism? Even though most people can recognize terrorism when they see it, experts have had difficulty coming up with an ironclad definition. The state department defines terrorism as premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by sub national groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience. In another useful attempt to produce a definition, Paul Pillar, a former deputy chief of the CIA s Counter terrorist Center, argues that there are four key elements of terrorism: 1. It is premeditated planned in advance, rather than an impulsive act of rage. 2. It is political not criminal, like the violence tha
