Hostage-taking is one form of terrorism. The response to these incidents is usually hostage negotiations. This technique is very successful because of the ability of the police or military to contain and negotiate. Most experts have focused on the negotiations within such operations. However, analysis of the containment aspects of these sieges reveals that the decision to contain and not to assault the hostage-taker is the crucial factor in the success of most negotiations. This decision is a political decision. Unless the role of politics is examined in the study of terrorism, social scientists will forever be tied to conservative policies and practices and will continue to miss State terrorism, the other and more important form of terrorism. Note and 97 references (Author abstract modified)