Values Implicated in the Struggle with Terrorism: War, Crime, and Prevention

Values can tell us much about the terrorist choice of tactics as well as about its impact on us. Values are critical to understanding the policy choices that are available for addressing the problem of terrorism. Values reflect shared experience that has been solidified into principles that do not need to be revisited in time of crisis. Closer attention to value-driven policy making will go far in restoring order to the American policy chaos of the early 21st Century and rebuilding U.S. credibility in the global community. This article outlines the values inherent in the terrorist's choice of violence and the values inherent in policy choices for response (law enforcement, security, and military).