What is terrorism and what constitutes an act of terrorism? Certainly the history of terrorism is as old as war itself. Some might say that the strategy of instilling fear in the enemy, making him overestimate his own strengths and at the same time doubt his own, constitutes the very essence of war. But mention the word “terrorism” to someone, and the first thing that comes to mind is likely to be a mental image: the Oklahoma City bombing, the dead Marines in Beirut, the Unabomber, or Lockerbie. The events of September 11, which have become synonymous with the idea of ​​terrorism in America, would certainly be at the top of that list. But even these events, which for us best illustrate the phenomenon, fail to define it. This is due to the different circumstances behind each event. The sum cannot simply be broken down into its antecedents. So how do we define a broad term like terrorism? Before you can destroy your enemy, you must understand him. With this in mind, we will look at the different classifications that terrorism can be divided into, before moving on to tactics and mindset. The different types of terrorism are as varied as the motivations and desires of the individual terrorist. The difference between international terrorism and domestic terrorism is probably the most obvious division. To put it simply, international terrorism is an attack by foreign agents against another country or its interests, while domestic terrorism is an attack against a country by its own citizens. It is also important to take into consideration whether the terrorist is acting as part of a larger group or cell, or whether he is a “lone wolf” and acting without any outside help. The general idea of ​​a terrorist network is best represented by organizations like... middle of paper......ernet. The Internet allows the terrorist to spread propaganda and videos, recruit potential new members, and communicate with other terrorists around the world. This is why terrorist tactics have become so important. He knows that a ferocious attack, especially against a civilian target, guarantees him front-page news coverage. This is how these groups incubate fear in the general public, who will then begin to demand action from their leaders, eventually leading to complete withdrawal. By the same token, the best way to address this extranational threat is through information. This is why a good counterinsurgency strategy is the best method to defeat terrorists. Conquer the hearts and minds of the local population and you will deprive the enemy camp of support. Defeat the terrorist by defeating his ideology. Making the correct classification is only the first step.