While I disagree with your intrepretation of motivations, you are clearly correct in recognizing that terrorism is a staged media event. I hope your point is not lost by your divertion into morals, morality, and economic motives. All of these are irrelevant.

What is relevant is your point about the tree falling in the forest syndrome. I have previously posted the Gerry Adams quote that "one bomb in London is worth 50 in Belfast." Terrorism is theatre of the weak and it is precisely the media that make their efforts successful.

We need to abandon the terms terrorist and terrorism and replace them with what they are, criminal and crime. Terrorist has become merely a pejoritive term to describe the acts of someone you ideologically oppose. A criminal has transgressed against the larger society and can't use the excuse of targeting his enemy.

I think you are right to point your finger at the media. This is a recognition that should be made and the society should reign in. This would not be a restraint on freedom of the press, it would be preventing shouting fire in a crowded room.

Publius