NATIONAL AND BLOC INTERESTS CAUSED THE WASTE OF A VALUABLE YEAR AS THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) CONSIDERED TERRORISM AT GREAT DEPTH AND IN FOUR SEPARATE FORUMS: THE GENERAL COMMITTEE, THE PLENARY OF THE 27TH SESSION, THE SIXTH OR LEGAL COMMITTEE, AND THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. ALTHOUGH A NUMBER OF VALUABLE STUDIES ON TERRORISM WERE MADE, THE AD HOC COMMITTEE WAS UNABLE TO RECOMMEND ANY NEW LEGAL INSTRUMENTS FOR PREVENTION. THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THOSE DEBATES AND PERSONALITIES INVOLVED IN THE UN EFFORTS, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO PROCEEDINGS ON TREATMENT OF TERRORISTS AS OPPOSED TO TREATMENT OF 'FREEDOM FIGHTERS' USING TERRORIST TACTICS. IT REVEALS THAT, OVERALL, THE ARAB STATES SABOTAGED PROGRESS ON THIS ITEM, FINDING ALLIES IN BOTH THE AFRICAN SPHERE AND THE SOVIET BLOC. ALTHOUGH THE WEST WAS WILLING TO COMPROMISE ON TREATMENT OF TERRORISTS INVOLVED IN LIBERATION MOVEMENTS AGAINST RACIST REGIMES, THE UN, DUE TO ARAB INTERFERENCE, WAS UNABLE TO CONDEMN EVEN THE KIND OF TERRORISM THAT OCCURRED AT MUNICH DURING THE 1972 OLYMPIC GAMES. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.