But at least the goals of international terrorism seemed familiar, and the proper American response seemed clear, namely pressure against foreign governments that sponsor terrorists and greater surveillance of known terrorist groups.

Do we have some means beyond threats of military action to induce Iran and Syria to stop sponsoring terrorists?

They're hearing from us in nations that are now much more reluctant to sponsor terrorists or terrorism.

Cuba has been listed by the United States as a country that sponsors terrorists and it became critical for it to take a public stand against terrorism, political analysts said.

The regime has long been accused in the West of sponsoring terrorists, including the kidnappers of foreigners in Lebanon, although the intercession of Mr. Rafsanjani is credited with helping to free the remaining American hostages.

Sudan remains on Washington's list of countries sponsoring terrorists, however.

There are still governments that sponsor and harbor terrorists, but their number has declined.

Afghanistan and Iraq are no longer sponsoring terrorists.

In 1997 the United States withdrew its ambassador, accusing Sudan of sponsoring terrorists, including Osama bin Laden, who lived here for part of the 1990's.

A Cairo weekly magazine reports that the Libyan leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, said he sponsored terrorists but stopped when he discovered that the terrorists were working for themselves and not for all Arabs.