THE MOST DISTURBING TREND IN TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IS THEIR FOCUS ON LIBERAL WESTERN, AND WESTERN-STYLE DEMOCRACIES IN CONTRAST TO PREVIOUS ATTACKS ON REPRESSIVE SOCIETIES. THE TRANSNATIONAL SCOPE OF TERRORISM IS ALSO MORE EVIDENT THAN IN THE PAST AS MODERN TERRORISTS ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE LAW AND ORDER AND CITIZENS' FAITH IN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS. THESE ACTIVITIES INTENSIFY THE AUTHORITARIAN AND REPRESSIVE NATURE OF GOVERNMENT COUNTERMEASURES, PARTICULARLY IN URUGUAY AND NORTHERN IRELAND. THROUGH THE UNRESTRICTED FLOW OF UNDERGROUND LITERATURE, RADIO BROADCASTS, AND SHARED TRAINING BASES, MODERN TERRORISTS ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND PROVIDE EACH OTHER WITH MONEY, ARMS, AND FORGED PASSPORTS. TO UNDERMINE THE INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND WESTERN EUROPE, THE SOVIET UNION AND CUBA HAVE ESTABLISHED TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR TERRORISTS OF VARIOUS NATIONALITIES AND HAVE SUPPLIED EXTREMISTS WITH WEAPONS. THE INVOLVEMENT OF JAPANESE TERRORISTS IN THE ARAB-ISRAELI DISPUTE, CULMINATING IN THE LOD AIRPORT MASSACRE, IS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS GLOBAL BROTHERHOOD OF TERRORISTS. ALTHOUGH TERRORISM HAS ONLY BEEN SUCCESSFUL WHEN BACKED BY A STRONG SURGE OF POPULAR SUPPORT IN A NATIONALIST CAUSE, TERRORISTS REMAIN A DANGEROUS THREAT. THE POSSIBILITY THAT TERRORISTS COULD ASSEMBLE A NUCLEAR BOMB UNDERLINES THE IMPORTANCE OF IMMEDIATE COUNTERMEASURES. EACH NATION SHOULD CREATE A DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL DEFENSE WITH EXPERTS IN INTELLIGENCE, EXPLOSIVES, COMMANDO TACTICS, LANGUAGES, PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE, AND COMMUNICATIONS. AN INTERNATIONAL TREATY MIGHT BE DEVELOPED TO SUSPEND ALL AIR SERVICES TO ANY COUNTRY THAT FAILS TO PUNISH OR EXTRADITE SKYJACKERS. UNITED NATIONS MEMBER COUNTRIES COULD ALSO AGREE TO PUNISH OR EXTRADITE ANY TERRORIST WHO HARMS INNOCENT CIVILIANS, AND THE INTELLECTUAL ESTABLISHMENT COULD CEASE THEIR FAVORABLE PORTRAYAL OF TERRORISTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE MEDIA. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)