Terrorism

My Terrorism definition:

"Any attack made by a non-state, non-uniformed entity against a state's property and/or citizens based upon ideological or other identity motivations."

A state, or its uniformed agents, cannot commit terrorism. They can oppress, commit war crimes, break national or international laws and treaties, but they can't be terrorists. Saddam's soldiers, when in uniform, could rape, pillage, and burn his own people or even commit genocide, but I wouldn't call it terrorism. I would call it war crimes, atrocities, crimes against humanity, etc.

Terrorism, to me, is a specific label that addresses the violent actions of individuals with ideologies. PETA if it bombs a butcher's shop; Greenpeace if it rams an oil tanker.

Is Hassan, the Fort Hood killer, a terrorist? Yes, because he wasn't operating as a soldier of the US Army or as an American; instead, he was operating under his identity as a muslim jihadist, supporting the ideology of killing the infidels and oppressors of muslims.

It does not matter that the facts disprove his rationale. It doesn't matter that Iraqis are more free and safe now than ever before. All that matters is that he didn't want to support the Great Satan with his service, and did want to kill Americans.