Book: What Terrorists Want

I’ve often argued that terrorism is a poor tactic because it doesn’t achieve its political ends. My son Kevin, one of the smartest people I know, argued that terrorists really weren’t trying to achieve political ends, but were trying for glory within their group. After we talked about it for a while, we decided that both statements were true, but only covered small pieces of the phenomenon. Now Louise Richardson has written a book that covers both and much more in What Terrorists Want. Her thesis is that terrorist groups have primary political aims, but individual terrorists are motivated by what she calls the three R’s, Revenge, Renown, and Reaction. To these individual, the primary aim is mainly used for self justification. I’m oversimplifying, of course, but it makes a lot of sense. She also offers solutions. I think they make sense, and perhaps we will someday try them. In the meantime, read this book. It’s worth it.