Terrorism is a method of deliberate violence that involves systematic, coercive intimidation to create a climate of fear among a wide audience. State-sponsored terrorism is effective because it provides protected terrorist operational bases, a diplomatic network for operations within a target country, travel documents, intelligence, and access to sophisticated weapons. It is attractive to its practitioners because democratic nations have not imposed serious costs on those states that sponsor terrorism. Narco-terrorism is violence perpetrated by major drug traffickers against nations that obstruct their trafficking enterprises. There is a growing body of commentary on international law that supports the doctrine of self-help as a legitimate legal response for nations who have been victimized by state-sponsored terrorism. The U.S. Government should be at the forefront of legal discussions designed to impose constraints on terrorism and terrorist nations. Counter-terrorist tactics must be multifaceted, involving both political and military responses. An effective strategy is undermined by states that refuse to condemn terrorism and by states that do not act when the opportunity is ripe for vigorous retaliation.