The Conflict

Throughout its long history, terrorism often has been addressed through swift violence in return, rather than through prolonged legal proceedings. Prosecution of terrorism, especially with the rise of international terrorism, involves coordination of multiple legal systems and frequently conflicting political aims.

Political

• Nations that have harbored terrorists often covertly support their acts or fear reprisals from them.
• Reluctance to extradite terrorist suspects to countries that allow capital punishment has delayed many prosecutions.
• Successful prosecution of terrorists can require years of investigation of well-hidden funds and tiny pieces of circumstantial evidence spreading across nations and continents.

Religious

• In the age of international terrorism, alliances cross national borders and frequently have been based on religious beliefs rather than national objectives.

Nations that have fallen victim to terrorism during its long history have attempted to battle it in many ways, the main approach being a violent...