This paper is argues that terrorism is a crime where violence is used as a means of communication. Accordingly, those with significant responsibilities for security must learn to understand the messages and the motivations of the sender to counter terrorism effectively. It is argued that the term ‘Islamic terrorism’ is unhelpful as it is corruption of the Koran which may be used to motivate some terrorist and it is likely that the recent rise of terrorism is based on nationalistic rather than wholly religious issues. The paper argues that terrorism may be rational within the sub-cultural groups from which it springs, and it is this rationality which may be exploited by counter-measures. These should be coordinated and aimed at dealing with the terrorist and defences against attacks; seeking to address social, economic and political conditions which lead to support for terrorism and finally at addressing legal issues. The objective is to dislocating terrorists from their supporters and by removing the motivating factors removing the terrorists’ status as a ‘local hero’