@phillmv that depends on your definition of success. terrorism can definitely succeed at sabotaging political settlements the terrorists might object to. i don’t think that’s disputed. whether they can create conditions political settlements even of the form terrorists might claim that they seek is a different story. if continued nihilistic conflict is your objective, then sure, terrorism can be an effective tactic.

@phillmv also, i think assassination of a political leader and “terrorism”, as a matter of definition, should be distinguished. terrorism is killing, raping, kidnapping, injuring nonpolitical noncombatants towards political ends. assasinating political leaders might be prohibited by laws of war (more honored in the breach), but is something else.