-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- James wrote:

This is not the definition used in the analysis, which references the much-bandied "war on terrorism". Granted that the English language is no longer what it was after nearly a century of concerted corruption through constant misuse by all stripes of propagandists, disinformation artists, and damned liars, but any analysis that supplants shoddy analogies and metaphor for precise usage (and I'm wondering for what reason) is suspect. Also granted that this is what the politicians are touting, with only tangential suggestions of conflict with other states.

Good points; though to be fair, there is a body of fairly influential literature out there that does address the problem you're getting at. You might be interested in a book (available as a free online pdf) called "Countering the New Terrorism". http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR989/ I read it when it came out in 1999, probably ought to have another read myself... Here's a summary: Traces the recent evolution of international terrorism against civilian and U.S. military targets, looks ahead to where terrorism is going, and assesses how it might be contained. The authors consider the threat of information-based terrorism and of weapons of mass destruction, with an emphasis on how changes in the sources and nature of terrorism may affect the use of unconventional terror. The authors propose counterterrorism strategies that address the growing problem of homeland defense. Chapter One: Introduction Ian O. Lesser Changing Terrorism in a Changing World Study Approach and Structure Chapter Two: Terrorism Trends and Prospects Bruce Hoffman Introduction Trends In Terrorism Terrorist Tactical Adaptations Across the Technological Spectrum and Their Implications Conclusion Chapter Three: Networks, Netwar, and Information-Age Terrorism John Arquilla, David Ronfeldt, and Michele Zanini A New Terrorism (with Old Roots) Recent Views About Terrorism The Advent of Netwar--Analytical Background Middle Eastern Terrorism and Netwar Terrorist Doctrines--The Rise of a "War Paradigm" Information-Age Terrorism and the U.S. Air Force Policy Implications and Conclusions for the USAF Chapter Four: Countering the New Terrorism: Implications for Strategy Ian O. Lesser Introduction Understanding and Countering the "New" Terrorism Terrorism in Strategic Context The Lessons and Relevance of Counterterrorism Experience Conceptualizing National Counterterrorism Strategy Conclusions more pdfs: http://www.rand.org/hot/newslinks/terrorism.html -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: Hush 2.0 wl8EARECAB8FAju3p2QYHGF1dG8zMDEwOTRAaHVzaG1haWwuY29tAAoJEKadvsVlUK4P DSIAn1Nfp28gVe5MM0rR5VFNFPEfrjcCAJ9gkYIIubnT+6ML1XcE8KiRjAQolw== =ZEPf -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----