THE MAJOR TERRORIST WEAPON HAS BECOME THE THREAT OF DEATH RATHER THAN THE DEED ITSELF. HOWEVER, TECHNICAL WEAPONRY DEVELOPMENT NOW MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR A GROUP OF 5 TERRORISTS, ARMED WITH AUTOMATIC PISTOLS AND GRENADES, TO HIJACK A JUMBO JET WITH MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE ABOARD OR TO THREATEN AN AIRLINER WITH HAND-HELD MISSILES. THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF TERRORISM WHICH MOTIVATE YOUTHFUL TERRORISTS CAN BE FOUND IN THE WRITINGS OF FRANTZ FANON, CARLOS MARIGHELLA, CHE GUEVARA AND HIS DISCIPLE REGIS DEBRAY, AND THE THEORETICIAN AND SOCIOLOGIST HERBERT MARCUSE. ALTHOUGH TERRORIST GROUPS IN IRELAND AND PALESTINE SHOW OBVIOUS, THOUGH CONFUSED, TERRITORIAL AIMS, MANY OF THE GROUPS NOW MOST ACTIVE KIDNAP AND KILL TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES WHICH ARE INTERNATIONAL AND DOCTRINAL. THEIR LEADERS ARE OFTEN EDUCATED AND FROM PROSPEROUS FAMILIES. INDOCTRINATION AND PRACTICAL MILITARY KNOWLEDGE ARE EMPHASIZED. MONEY IS THE FUEL OF TERRORISM AND COMES FROM SUCH VARIED SOURCES AS GOVERNMENT LEADERS, INDIVIDUAL SYMPATHIZERS, THE DRUG TRADE, AND BANK RAIDS. AUTOMATIC AND MINIATURIZED WEAPONRY AND MILITARY-TYPE EXPLOSIVES, USUALLY PLASTIC, ARE USED BY MANY GROUPS. TAKEN BY SURPRISE, WESTERN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES HAVE BEEN SLOW TO FIGHT BACK. BETTER INTELLIGENCE, SECURITY, AND TRAINED HOSTAGE NEGOTIATORS MAY IMPROVE THE ADVANTAGES OF ANTITERROR SQUADS, AS WELL AS A WELL-ARMED POLICE FORCE READY TO TAKE ACTION, IF NECESSARY. THE OBJECTIVES, ACTIVITIES, AND INTERNATIONAL LINKS OF TERRORIST GROUPS ARE ALSO EXAMINED, AND A CHRONOLOGY OF TERROR FROM 1969 TO THE PRESENT IS PRESENTED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND COLOR ILLUSTRATIONS OF WEAPONS ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)