The U.S. counter-terrorist policy stands on three pillars: not acceding to terrorist demands, pressuring States who support terrorist groups or who use terrorism to promote their own foreign policies, and imposing the rule of law on terrorists for their actions. The first component of the policy was greatly damaged by the Iran-contra affair, however American credibility has largely been restored since then. The U.S. has succeeded in pressuring several State sponsors of terrorism to distance themselves from their terrorist allies; Libya and Syria have both reduced their active support of these groups. The use of the rule of law against terrorists has begun to work as international attitudes toward terrorists harden and as various governments provide the law enforcement resources necessary to deter terrorism. The current threat environment is comprised of three particular elements: radical Palestinian groups, Libya, and terrorists in Latin America. In the future, these threats will be exacerbated as terrorists begin to use higher technology weapons including chemical weapons, sophisticated bombs, and plastic explosives.