Terrorism: will we ever be able to defeat it?Terrorism is not necessarily a new phenomenon and will never be eliminated from society. Terrorism has been defined as the application of violence or the threat of violence intended to create panic in society, to weaken or overthrow rulers, or to bring about political change. There will continue to be minorities or oppressed (or perceived as oppressed) people or groups who will continue to believe that terrorism is the only solution to their problems. (1) (2) (3) The earliest precedents in the history of terrorism date back to the Sicarii, an extremist Jewish faction during the Roman occupation of Palestine in 73 AD. The commander of the Sicarii led the communal suicide of the Masada mountain fortress on the banks of the Sea Died. Instead of surrendering to the enslavement of the victorious Roman forces, over 960 Jewish men, women, and children chose suicide. (1) The division between the Sunni and Shia Islamic sects is based on who can become the Prophet's successor. This dates back to the early days of Islam. In 680 AD, Husayn, a direct descendant of the Prophet, led himself and his partisans against 10,000 Sunni military forces near the modern city of Karbala, Iraq. (1)During the 11th and 13th centuries, the Assassins (Hashashin or hashish users), a Shiite sect, carried out suicide missions to spread Islam throughout northern Persia. The Assassins were guaranteed paradise for their sacrifice. The offenders handed themselves over to capture and death to demonstrate the purity of their motives, dying for Allah and thus securing entry into paradise. (1) In India, a late medieval, religious, and xenophobic sect called the Thuggees terrorized and strangled large numbers of wealthy travelers as sacrifices to… by the way… their beliefs. Bin Laden proved to most Muslims that he was capable of fighting back and restoring the Muslim world to its former pre-eminence. Dead or alive, Bin Laden will remain one of the most historic figures of our time. (4) It will take a long time before we free ourselves from the terrorist threat. For the terrorist, he/she is a revolutionary who has not taken control of his/her religion. The terrorist is not an ordinary follower of Islam, rather he is an Islamic purist who passionately follows the Prophet. The terrorist is trying to restore the pre-eminence of Islam and bring the whole world back under Islam. Past resentment, real or not, ensures that the terrorist has a sympathetic audience. The terrorist will get heaven and will not compromise. For these reasons, terrorism will continue to curse our society. (4)Works CitedIntroduction to Political Science