Hi Mary Anne,

Might I suggest you add to your list some state actions, where the nation state itself is the Terrorist?

The oppressive regimes in Latin America come to mind, where the military might of the Army has been used to dominate and control its own citizens.

I might also mention cases where the US has acted as a terrorist by any definition. In its entire history, the United States has declared war on only five separate occasions. During this same time period the US has invaded or intervened or occupied other countries over 150 times--81 instances in Latin America alone.

An example being the mining of the harbors of Nicaragua, for which the World Court of Justice tried and condemned the US for committing an act of war.

Also in Nicaragua back in 1852 San Juan del Norte (Greytown) was destroyed by US Marines to avenge a perceived insult to the American Ambassador to that country.

Point here being, that terrorism is a concept that does defy a comprehensive definition. It is generally used as a perjoritive term to apply to the acts of someone you don't like. If the side you favor commits the act, it is usually termed a pre-emptive strike.

To demonize whomever opposes you serves only a mobilizing purpose for the propaganda machine--it doesn't solve the problem or make it go away. The temptation to conduct policy by sound bytes has to be overcome. The US has to recognize its own participation in actions in which we have violated our treaty obligations we incurred as a signatory to the United Nations. We have to learn to respect the soverignty and right to self-determination as we agreed to do, irrespective of labels or political preferences.