Italian terrorism: Record figures and political dilemmas

The political assassination of Aldo Moro in May 1978 had a stunning effect on the Italian public similar to that experienced by Americans in the wake of the assassination of President Kennedy. The Moro case underscored the key political dilemmas confronting Italian leaders of all parties. It also led to a temporary breakthrough in the prosecution of political crimes by the arrest of leading suspects and the erosion of the terrorist supporting infrastructure. But without more effective legislation bolstering the discretionary use of force of police agencies, the frequency of terrorist activities has not diminished; the objectives have shifted temporarily from “revolutionary” to anarchial motives—compounding the prospects for prompt societal resolutions at the frustrations of issues.