bca3

c4: you are most definitely correct that terrorism is poorly defined, and that the Marxist inversion of language is alive and well in the jihadist movement.

However, war is more than just politics by other means. It is an evolutionary struggle between organizing principles, a power play for those who wish to control the environment.

Our organizing principles are superior to all others so far. Terrorism is the Tonya Harding school of competitive advantage. Instead of the work, and the effort, and the superior organization that it takes to compete in a globalized, resource-centric world, terrorism tries to bypass the rules of evolution by hiring a shadowy figure to take out your kneecaps.

The United States is superior only because of her excellent organizing principles: life, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. Terrorism is a virus, a common cold. It is an attack of weakness on power, of failure on success. That is your international standard.

Unfortunately, that particular pill seems to be too sour for the West to swallow. It seems we will have to wait for the IV.