Terrorism is acts of war or political violence carried out by those with no legitimate, recognized right to do so. They are not governments. Governments which violate the rules of war commit war crimes. They are not even recognized quasi-government political movements like the Viet Cong (which had a shadow government and even a kinda-sorta parliament). Such conduct guerrilla war, and are supposed to be held accountable to the laws, uses and practices of war. Terrorists are individuals, perhaps small factions, even political parties, who may or (usually)may not wear uniforms, use only ‘approved and accepted weapons’, strike at military targets only, and hold their members accountable for their actions; usually they do none of these.
Under the usages and conventions of war in the 19th Century, such parties were equated with pirates, and could be summarily executed if caught bearing arms. I do not know what the current international law on them is, and I am afraid that the American government's legal position on terrorism is - shall we say - not a model of clarity and applicability.
VietVet
I agree with you.I quote the dictionary when people make s**FF up as they go along.