This is an interesting report that got picked up on BoingBoing… It’s a statistical analysis of 268 terrorist groups and what came of them between 1968 and 2008. The study found that 43% of groups terrorists dissolved through political means, 40% fell to consistent policing, 10% were victorious in achieving their goals, and only 7% were defeated through military campaigns. That’s right: there have been more victorious terrorist groups than groups that have been defeated in war.

Terrorism must be stopped. Our leaders must re-evaluate their strategies, and implement truly effective means to protect us all.

How Terrorist Groups End: Implications for Countering al Qa’ida (RAND Corporation).