What is a Terrorist?

I guess we learned from the FBI that terrorist acts are only terrorism if the terrorist is specifically affiliated with a known, government recognized terrorist organization. Thus, when Omeed Aziz Popal reported told police that he is a terrorist acting in the name of Islam, by FBI definitions, he is not.

Gee. I think he would know.

After driving his SUV into a number of people deliberately, the San Francisco police are simply calling it multiple assaults. See San Francisco Chronicle.

When Joel Henry Hinrichs blew himself up outside and Oklahoma State University football game, we can now understand why the FBI did not identify it as an act of terrorism. He had no known it ties to any government-recognized terrorist organization.

I want to trust the government. But I cannot trust the government’s definitions.