So who are the real terrorists?

"What is terrorism? ...there is in fact an official definition in the U.S. code and Army manuals, and elsewhere... Terrorism... is defined as 'the calculated use of violence or the threat of violence to attain goals that are political, religious or ideological in nature... through intimidation, coercion or instilling fear.' But we constantly read that the problem of defining terrorism is very vexing and complex... And there's an answer.
The official definition is unusable. Its unusable for two important reasons. First of all, its a very close paraphrase of official government policy — very close in fact. When its government policy, its called low-intensity conflict or counterterror.
Incidentally, its not just the United States. As far as I'm aware, this practise is universal...
The other reason you can't [use the official definition] is much simpler: it just gives all the wrong answers, radically so, as to who the terrorists are."

"The idea that Britain is a supporter of terrorism is an oxymoron in the mainstream political culture, as ridiculous as suggesting that Tony Blair should be indicted for war crimes. Yet state-sponsored terrorism is by far the most serious category of terrorism in the world today, responsible for far more deaths in many more countries than the 'private' terrorism of groups like Al Qaida. Many of the worst offenders are key British allies. Indeed, by any rational consideration, Britain is one of the leading supporters of terrorism in the world today. But this simple fact is never mentioned in the mainstream political culture. The official 'war against terrorism' is being framed according to elite priorities, excluding a large chunk of reality from public awareness."

opinion

Have the events that followed on – in the years since – from the terrible tragedy of 9/11 finally woken up the "silent majority" to the darker side of the (principally) US-driven quest for economic hegemony (masquerading as "globalisation" and "democracy")?
For there can now be little doubt that the bombing of Afghanistan, the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and the other US-led aggressions (be they "diplomatic", military or economic, overt or covert) that are still in the pipeline, are little to do with pursuing the so-called "War on Terror", but are largely motivated by mercenary considerations that exclusively serve the interests of a (predominantly American) ruling elite.

It has to be asked – just how many alleged "terrorist atrocities" are in reality State-sponsored gambits intended to pave the way for encroachments on civil liberties and the compromising or abandonment of those principles acknowledged as "human rights" so that the interests of a ruling elite may be more readily served?

Foolish indeed to dismiss terrorism per se as such Machiavellian manipulation, no matter how great the temptation may be. But in acknowledging the authenticity of at least some "terrorist actions", then we also have to acknowledge that for any genuine "War on Terror" to succeed, it should address the actual causes of terrorism, rather than resorting to terrorism's own tactics.

Those causes? Human suffering, deprivation, oppression, extreme poverty, disenfranchisement and, particularly, perceived injustices brought about through failures of the Rule of Law and an absence of recourse to a truly independent and empowered adjudicating body.

These failures in society can never be remedied by bombings, by invasions, by internment, and by all the trappings that accompany the forceful imposition of one ideology over another.
Nor can they be remedied by increasing encroachments on civil liberties, or the compromising or abandonment of those principles acknowledged as "human rights".
These "solutions" merely reinforce the seemingly fantastical notion that terrorism is just a gambit to place the masses in servitude to the State, and in fact they exacerbate the very conditions that breed terrorism in the first place.

And whilst these failures are only selectively addressed by the international community, then there will remain rich pickings for those who would manipulate the downtrodden into committing acts of violence.