Good point, GUEST 12 Aug 15 - 08:20 AM.

Militarists keep claiming that acts of terror against civilians will cause their armies to surrender, but all experience tells us that the opposite will happen: the morale on both sides is boosted. Thus, apart from the tactics mentioned by that GUEST, a possible rationale of terrorism is to fuel and prolong the conflict.

Oftentimes military leaders are afraid of peace, in which their importance is bound to diminish.

Japanese leaders surrendered because they realized that they had no chance to win, or even to achieve an honorable peace. Deaths of civilians were rather seen as an incentive to continue fighting.

Methods to speed up one's enemy's surrender and save lives do exist, but they are usually scorned by generals, because diplomats and real propaganda specialists must play the leading role, who must strive to understand the enemy.