Exploitable Weaknesses of Terrorist Groups - Essay Example

Given time, terrorist groups usually disintegrate and fade out of the limelight due to profound reasons depending on their nature, goals and cause (Blomberg, Engel & Sawyer, 2010). According to Jones & Libicki (2008), there are several reasons why terrorist groups seize to exist, but the primary ones are turning to political processes and assassination or arrest of their leaders by intelligence organizations or police. However, sometimes it may require a combination of different factors such as diverse policy instruments, military interventions, financial sanctions and political negotiations to bring down a terrorist group (Cronin, 2006; Jones & Libicki, 2008).

In a survey carried out between 1968 and 2006 by Jones & Libicki (2008) on terrorist groups that had become extinct, changing to political processes was most instrumental accounting for 43% of all endings. This was closely followed by policing strategies at 40% while those that ended due to achieving goals and military intervention stood at 10% and 7% respectively. As much as the metamorphosis of these groups is a challenge, their effective annihilation lies in understanding their nature and how they operate (Blomberg, Engel & Sawyer, 2010).

Groups that do not convert to political activism but cling to other ideals like religious and radicalization can only be terminated through policing strategies and economic sanctions. Use of military force on such groups by governments only results in exacerbation of their violence and turning civilians against governments. It is also important to demystify terrorism and avoid counter-terrorism strategies that are tantamount to the creation of military warfare governments and these groups (Jones & Libicki, 2008).