While terrorist attacks have killed increasing numbers of people, terrorist groups continue to have difficulty translating that violence into the political ends they seek. But that is not to say that terrorism is an astrategic tool. Although terrorists may not “win,” their campaigns always involve assessment of their progress toward an end.16 The standard way of describing progress toward such goals is to look at tactical and strategic aims.17 Most organizations have used terrorism as a means to achieve either short-term, tactical (proximate) aims or long-term, strategic (ultimate) goals—or
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