THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ORGANIZED TERRORISM HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED IN AIRCRAFT HIJACKINGS, HOSTAGE-TAKING, AND POLITICAL MURDERS. ONE OF THE FIRST DISTINCT INDICATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM OCCURRED IN 1974 WHEN THREE MEMBERS OF THE JAPANESE RED ARMY KILLED 24 PEOPLE AND INJURED ANOTHER 79 AT AN ISRAELI AIRPORT. TERRORISM CAN BE THOUGHT OF AS THE POOR MAN'S WARFARE AND AS THE WEAPON OF THE CONVENTIONALLY WEAK. IT CAN BE USED AGAINST STRONG ADVERSARIES BY REPRESSED PEOPLE AND OTHERS SUFFERING RESTRAINTS OR INJUSTICES. TERRORISTS NEED DETERMINATION, DEDICATION, POLITICAL MOTIVE, MONEY, WEAPONS, SUPPORT, AND A SAFE SANCTUARY. ACTS OF TERRORISM SEEM TO THRIVE BEST IN OPEN DEMOCRATIC STATES WHERE THEY ARE PUBLICIZED BY THE MEDIA. WHEN IT COMES TO BARGAINING FOR THE LIFE OF A HOSTAGE, A CONFLICT ARISES BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL SAFETY AND BASIC PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE AND RESISTING BLACKMAIL. THE MOST EFFECTIVE DETERRENT POLICY REGARDING TERRORISM IS TO MAKE TERRORISM UNPROFITABLE. IF TERRORISTS CAN FIND NO SANCTUARY AND IF ALL COUNTRIES UNIVERSALLY AGREE TO PUNISH OR EXTRADITE THOSE SEEKING REFUGE, THE PROBLEM WILL SUBSIDE. IN DETERRENCE AND PREVENTION, A REALISTIC ATTITUDE TOWARD POLICE AND SECURITY FORCES IS NECESSARY AND THE USE OF IDENTITY CARDS, FINGERPRINTS, COMPUTER DOSSIERS CAPABLE OF INSTANTLY IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS, AND OTHER FORMS OF SURVEILLANCE AND DETECTION MUST BE CONSIDERED. A FINE BALANCE BETWEEN RESTRICTIVE SAFETY AND CIVIL LIBERTY MUST BE ATTAINED. BILATERAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN COUNTRIES AND THE COLLECTION OF INTELLIGENCE ABOUT TERRORISTS ARE ESSENTIAL IN FORESTALLING TERRORIST ATTACKS. THE NUCLEAR THREAT POTENTIAL IN ORGANIZED TERRORISM IS EVALUATED. (DEP)