Yes he would argue that
And, to some extent he is correct. Blowing up a school bus or a Bar Mitzvah is clearly terror but massive acts like 911 are strategic strikes that go beyond. Naturally, 911 was a heinous act but it was a strike against a financial center and our economy. By attacking us in that way he has created a war that his side can't win.
Far from resolving the issue for his side he has created a situation that threatens the existence of Islam as he knows it.
The comments from Putin clearly indicate that it may not fall on us to deliver the coup de grace to OBL's movement.