Though I agree with your basic premise, it is different when today's "terrorists" attack civilian targets.
That difference is only compounded, imho, when you consider that it's religious zealousness - and not political/philosophical ideals - that fuel a good number of the "terrorist" attacks.
I still hold to my long-standing point (in agreement with you), however, that the 'War on Terror' is a profoundly stupid way to put it, and should insult the intelligence of every man, woman, and child in America... if not everyone in the West.
We're at war with a noun.
