POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE THE MOST FREQUENT TARGETS OF THREATENED GOVERNMENTS. CONTEMPORARY TERRORISTS OPERATE MORE CLANDESTINELY IN URBAN AREAS THAN CLASSICAL RURAL GUERRILLAS. TERRORISTS COMMIT THEIR ILLEGAL ACTS OF VIOLENCE FOR PERCEIVED POLITICAL PURPOSES AND USE A VARIETY OF TACTICS. SUCH TACTICS INCLUDE KIDNAPPING, BOMBING, ASSASSINATION, SKYJACKING, AND HOLDING DIPLOMATS HOSTAGE. TERRORISM PRESENTS SPECIAL PROBLEMS DUE TO ITS POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS RATHER THAN BECAUSE OF ITS CRIMINAL NATURE. MANY TERRORISTS GROUPS ARE ORGANIZED IN SUPPORTING NETWORKS, AND VERY SOPHISTICATED COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY IS BEING USED IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES TO CHECK FOR SUSPECT TERRORIST GROUPS AND TO BUILD AUTHORIZED INTELLIGENCE DOSSIERS. IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN WEAPONRY AND COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND IN PSYCHOLOGICAL BARGAINING TECHNIQUES AND ANTITERROR COMBAT TRAINING. GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO COUNTER UNIQUE FEATURES OF TERRORISM USUALLY PROGRESS ALONG SUBSTANTIVE AREAS. WEST GERMANY IS CITED AS ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW AN INDUSTRIALIZED NATION CAN COMBAT TERRORISM. WAYS TO ELIMINATE THE THREAT OF TERRORISM ARE DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)