The Importance of Definitions

Now that the Government of the United States of America have decided to rule the world under the slogan of "War on Terror", the word "terrorism" has become subject of heated arguments in the same way as the word "God" was subject of heated arguments at the time of the religious wars of the past1. But in such arguments the parties often mean different thing by the same word, and for that reason the argument cannot be resolved.

Had the argument at the time of the Crusades really been about God, then it would have been necessary to examine the parties' definitions and to see which one is correct. But the meaning of the word "God" did not matter at the time of the medieval Crusades, because religion was used as an excuse for wars of looting and conquest of lands.

But those waging the present "War on Terror" assure us that the purpose of "War on Terror" is not looting and conquests, but the defence of the Civilized World against "terrorism". And, if their assurances are true, then we need to understand what the word "terrorism" means. Because, without clear understanding of "terrorism", "War on Terror" will fail to achieve its stated purpose, and will come to be seen by the future generations as an orgy of destruction, cruelty and slaughter, motivated by vanity, ignorance, prejudice and greed, as the Crusades of the past.

What is Terrorism?

Definition :

Terrorism is destruction of people or property by people not acting on behalf of an established government for the purpose of redressing a real or imaginary injustice attributed to an established government and aimed directly or indirectly at an established government.
Not all cases of destruction of people or property are terrorism. The important definitive characteristics of terrorism are:

1. The act of destruction is performed by a person or group of persons not acting on behalf of an established government ,
2. The act of destruction is performed to redress a real