The United States is a prime target because American policies, values, and culture are directly opposed by many terrorist groups and because of our extensive official, diplomatic, and commercial presence in the Middle East, Israel, Western countries, and even moderate or pro-Western Arab governments also are major targets. Therefore, this paper examines the dynamics of recent terrorist activities in the Middle East and the threat to American interests in the region. Then, it analyzes the causes and rationalization of terrorist activities by the various groups in the Middle East. The paper also directs a critical examination of the role of the media in terrorism, and raises some serious questions about the media's involvement in terrorist incidents. Finally, the paper seeks to link the previous sections into the present situation and gauge the impact of both domestic and international factors. (Author abstract)