Ever since Sept. 11, rebel groups, separatist organizations and militant political movements in various parts of the world have taken pains to distance themselves from anything resembling terrorism.
The Irish Republican Army has begun to turn over its arms, Chechen rebels are starting peace talks with Russia and Yasser Arafat ordered Palestinian groups to halt suicide attacks.
"Those who are using the killing of civilians to attract attention are maybe rethinking their strategy," said Philip Wilcox, president of Foundation for Middle East Peace in Washington.
Some armed groups may be trying to avoid American wrath after seeing the airstrikes in Afghanistan, analysts say. Others could be trying to adapt to a new international reality in which terrorism is condemned even more harshly than it had been. And others are thinking hard about their tactics.
In a development the terrorists surely never intended, the aftermath of the attacks appear to be pushing some long-festering conflicts toward resolution.
On Tuesday, the IRA said it had begun to lay down its arms after decades of battling British soldiers and bombing commercial centers, including devastating explosions in the capital's financial district, the City of London. Supporters conceded the terrorist attacks in the US played a role.
"The IRA couldn't dream of mounting another bomb spectacular against the City of London," a senior negotiator for the IRA-linked Sinn Fein party said on condition of anonymity. "If it ever was an option, it no longer could be after Sept. 11."
Russian President Vladimir Putin saw Sept. 11 as an opportunity to put the lingering war in Chechnya behind him. In a speech outlining Russia's response he invited the rebels -- with whom he had refused to negotiate since the conflict rekindled in 1999 -- to come to the table.
Analysts say Putin hopes the new international climate will help pressure the rebels to accept a resolution he considers favorable.
The pro-independence rebels, who had already indicated their willingness to negotiate, accepted immediately and said Wednesday that talks would begin within 10 days. Although prospects for real peace remain distant, the events since Sept. 11 represent the best hope in years.
Even the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, which has been resistant to almost every world event for decades, has been affected by the attacks.
After Sept. 11, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat quickly declared a cease-fire with Israel, and his police used guns, clubs and tear gas to battle Palestinians demonstrating in favor of Osama bin Laden.
Although militant groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad didn't sign onto the cease-fire, their attacks against Israeli targets have fallen off noticeably, and neither group has carried out a single suicide bombing since Sept. 11.
"Hamas and Islamic Jihad have become more sensitive to trying to avoid the kind of activities which might label them more as being terrorists," said Ghassan Khatib, a Palestinian political analyst.
When the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the Oct. 17 killing of ultranationalist Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi, Arafat's officers arrested 20 members of the group, although Israel has said they haven't arrested those responsible for the killing.
Nearby in Lebanon, the guerrilla group Hezbollah -- which has been accused of links to al-Qaeda -- condemned the Sept. 11 attacks and dramatically cut back on attacking Israeli forces. Hezbollah leaders deny the two events are related.
Most armed groups from Mexico to Manila have taken pains to condemn the terrorist attacks, with some have even said that the US bombing of Afghanistan was justified.
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