Characteristics of the Successful Terrorist 1. Dedication--To be successful, a terrorist cannot be a casual or part-time mercenary, willing to operate only when it suits his convenience or his pocket. He must become a fedayeen, a "man of sacrifice." Dedication also implies absolute obedience to the leader of the political movement. 2. Personal bravery--As the terrorist must face the possibility of death, injury, imprisonment, or even torture if captured, O'Ballance regards this trait as important, to varying degrees, depending upon one's position within the terrorist group's hierarchy. 3. Without the human emotions of pity or remorse--Since most of his victims will include innocent men, women, and children whom he must be prepared to kill in cold blood, the terrorist must have the "killer instinct," able to kill without hesitation on receipt of a code or signal. As this expert notes, many can kill in the heat of anger or in battle, but few, fortunately, can do so in cold blood. 4. Fairly high standard of intelligence--As the would-be terrorist has to collect, collate, and assess information, and devise and put into effect complex plans, and evade police, security forces, and other hostile forces, intelligence would appear to be a requisite. 5. Fairly high degree of sophistication--This is essential, according to O'Ballance, in order for the terrorist to blend into the first-class section on airlines, stay at first- class hotels, and mix inconspicuously with the international executive set. 6. Be reasonably well educated and possess a fair share of general knowledge--By this, O'Ballance means that the terrorist should be able to speak English as well as one other major language. He asserts that a university degree is almost mandatory. Edgar O'Ballance, The Language of Violence: The Blood Politics of Terrorism. San Rafael, CA: Presidio Press, l979, pp. 300- 301. (Edgar.394 h/b)