It may not be possible to deter fanatical terrorists, but members of terrorist systems may be amenable to influence. The U.S. counterterrorism strategy should therefore include political warfare, placing at risk things the terrorists hold dear, a credible threat of force against states or groups that support acquisition of weapons of mass destruction, and maintaining cooperation with other nations engaged in the war on terror, while also preserving core American values.
Paul K. Davis (Ph.D., M.I.T., Chemical Physics) is a senior scientist and research leader at RAND.
Brian Michael Jenkins is one of the world's leading authorities on political violence and sophisticated crime. He has served as chairman of RAND's Political Science Department and directed RAND's research on political violence.