Guys, the funny thing about the terms Terrorist and Liberator is that they are subjective. One man or woman's terrorist is likely to be another's liberator. Were we liberators in Iraq? By the view of the Iraqi citizens tearing down Hussein's statue in Bagdad, I'd say yes. Has the United States engaged in acts of terrorism? Depends upon who you ask. I'm sure the Taliban would answer with yes. Hussein would say yes (were he not currently in much warmer climes ). But these are answers from groups who themselves are on the defensive over oppressive behavior of their own.

Human society will always have this element of multiple viewpoints, so long as it exists in a healthy environment, that is to say, exists in a world that affords the freedom to believe something someone else might not believe.

Terrorism is an illegal act because it infringes on the rights of individuals who are not necessarily involved in the original conflict. That is its power. By affecting people who wouldn't otherwise have an interest in the conflict, the terrorist can bring attention to his/her agenda or issues.

This is the difference between a terrorist act and a normal criminal act. A criminal act usually has a much more mundane and concrete motive whether it is a bank robbery (money) or murder (get rid of someone). Terrorist acts while criminal, are usually based in an ideological framework with violence as only an attention getting device and not part of the motive.

Homocidal maniacs and Sociopaths not withstanding as they have a psychosis which leads them to believe that their acts are part of normal behavior or have no moral compass to lead them.

The United States while motivated by some rather dubious information, has acted with general world consent. This is much the same way a Police force acts, with the general consent of the society they patrol. Whether or not you agree with the president's actions, they have been generally legal.

But it is our duty as citizens to follow what the government does. We are ultimately responsible for the rights and wrongs our country does. Remember: Adolf Hitler was legally elected and granted extra-ordinary powers by the German government, before he started his acts of terror on Europe. And at the time it all seemed perfectly reasonable to the thinking German citizen.

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