The Conflict

Since the 1930s there has been an effort to compile international rules against terrorism. Despite the good intentions of the nations to end the threat terrorism poses to the world, there have been obstacles in the path of international agreement, such as the failure to define "terrorism," determining jurisdiction, reserving the right to rebel against oppressors, and the right to self-determination. As the global community responds to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, an intensified effort, and an aggressive resolution, have attempted to force this difficult issue.

Political

• As soon as one identifies a political element in a criminal's behavior, it is very likely that some nation somewhere will sympathize with its perpetrators. This sympathetic nation will then work to prevent mistreatment of the criminal and block the approval of treaties that might criminalize his or her actions. When...