Modern terrorism has grown in step with the development of innovative weapons and modern means of transportation. Innovations in weapons technology have made lethal weapons smaller and more portable, while being more difficult to detect. The modern transportation industry not only enables terrorists to transport destruction throughout the world, but also poses vulnerable targets for terrorist attacks. Most important of all, modern terrorism has benefited from the development and spread of modern mass media and electronic communication, which have provided terrorists with useful tools for "selling their message" and coordinating attacks in various locations. For terrorists to maximize the impact of their deadly operations and their efforts to rally support for their causes, they need the media to broadcast their opinions, to influence public opinion, and to sow fear and anxiety among the public. The media in turn are attracted to terrorism as a subject of coverage because of its drama and interest among the public. A state faced with widespread terrorism must focus its intellectual and physical efforts on maintaining a positive morale among its citizens, while strengthening the ability of the state to cope with the threat of terrorism. Terrorism has achieved one of its goals if citizens are afraid to patronize public facilities and services because they might become victims of a terrorist attack. As the threat posed by international terrorism to world peace and security increases, the international community must seek ways to strengthen ties of cooperation among its members in the fight against terrorism. Unconventional terrorist weapons are of particular concern because it does not take the resources, facilities, or technological capacities of a state or powerful military regime to produce lethal quantities of poisonous chemical gases. Only minimal knowledge of chemistry -- combined with a primitive laboratory and a few basic ingredients, most of which can be easily purchased -- is sufficient to provide a terrorist organization with the capability to wage unconventional warfare that can kill masses of people. Only broad international agreement on the nature of the phenomenon, the nature and scale of the threat, and the steps required to counter it will enable the countries of the world to fight terrorism effectively and minimize its influence.