The September 11th attacks marked a clear escalation in quality of international terrorism. They have comprehensively changed the way in which we think about terrorism and react to it.
             The terrorist attacks proved that geographical separation from the area of operations no longer safeguards homeland security. It further reinforces the widely held assumption that international terrorism is the main threat to European security. Nowadays words and concepts such as "culture of fear", "civilization clash", "rogue states," "pre-emptive war," "weapons of mass distraction," "willing coalition," and "asymmetric war" have become very common, even in informal speeches and in daily discussions with friends and family. International terrorism is a very wide problem that encapsulate a different and varied aspects.
             The type of terrorism causing most contemporary international concern is a very complex phenomenon. Its manifestations, such as a systematic use of violence and intimidation, are as many and various as its motivations. Its peculiarity is in its capacity to reinvent itself. It does not have flags or border. It would be a big mistake if we assumed that any group with an "extreme" ideology must be directed by al-Qaeda, or by one of its regional offshoots.
             2. How Much Liberty Should We Sacrifice for Top-Notch Security?
             In such a scenario, leading European countries have followed the example of the United States and strengthened their national security measures, passed special laws and fine-tuned their political, diplomatic and military contingency plans and resources to prevent, in the first place, and then minimize the impact of a terrorist action. Controls have been increased (at the airport gates, on financial transactions, on internet access, bank account openings and movements), street security cameras have been installed everywhere for good measure. Therefore, whoever walks in these streets can be monitored and
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