What Are the Tactical or Strategic Reasons for Resorting to Terrorism?

Acts of terrorism allow the minority to fight the majority. It is unlikely that a terrorist group will have the resources to fight their enemies face to face. They must utilize a tactical advance and catch their opponent off guard. Terrorism is a battle the minority can fight, and often dictates.
The 1972 Munich Olympic hostage situation conducted by the Black September Organisation was conducted with the intention of taking Israeli athletes hostage and exchanging them for Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails. The event took place on the international stage and the world was left watching as events unfolded. Despite the groups objectives failing, and all hostages and majority of terrorists being killed, the attack was labeled by senior PLO officials are successful. The international community was alerted to the Palestinian situation, and a Palestinian presence was imposed on a international gathering that had intended to exclude them. ( Hoffman, 1998 )
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