The traditional definition of  "Terrorist" has been "one who inspires fear; an appalling person."  More recently, the term has gained such a political and cultural cachet that it's true meaning and impact has been sublimated by a hopeful notion that terrorists are simply "misguided" freedom fighters. By current definition, we no longer define a terrorist by his, or her, actions, but by their imputed motives. We develop sympathy for the pure intentions of the misunderstood  victims of disadvantaged circumstances.  Some americans are actually exhibiting symptoms of the "Stockholm Syndrome." The term  "terorist" no longer works when applied to the enemy we now face. It strikes fear into the hearts of nobody...except the poor souls who have met terrorists face to face.

On the other hand, a "thug" is a "brutal gangster or assassin."  I vote for the second term to define our enemy.  It serves a couple of constructive purposes.

First? Because we have all met thugs. We grew up with them in school. They were the people who made us switch seats on the school bus...just because they could.  They were the people who purposely bumped into us in the hallway and made us drop our books. They were the ones who would tip our milk in the lunchroom. As we grew older they became the people who cut us off in traffic or quickly cut in front of us and took the last parking spot. On a massive scale, he was the guy who killed 30 million innocent Russians. He was the guy who built rape rooms in Iraq. There is no glory in thuggery. It is just ugly. You get the point. The benefit of calling a terrorist a thug is simply this: We all have met thugs. We know the pain they inflict. We don't like them. We want them punished.

Another great benefit of switching terms is clarity. The one thing we know about thugs is this: They have no real ideology. Even when there is no real tangible benefit, they simply want to hurt, brutalize or instill fear in people purely for the pleasure of the endeavor. Thugs are not encumbered by religion, philosophy , race or politics. These are just "weapons of choice" that enable them to exact their selfish will on others. There is nothing redeeming about a thug. There are no excuses for a thug. Most important...they are never sated by appeasement. In fact, their unabated run of brutality is addicting to them.

The frightening reality is we never really get away from thugs. They are always with us. If the neighbor boy is tearing down mailboxes there is no point in hoping your own will never fall to the thug's bat. It's just a matter of time. You see, a thug is not a racist or bigot. A thug picks on everybody.

With one exception: Thugs are fearful people themselves. They are afraid of hard work. They are afraid of honest gain. They are very afraid of pain. The moment a thug recognizes he is in real danger he flees. So, even though you can never get away from all the thugs, you can neutralize them by ensuring they understand the resulting pain will not be worth the bad behavior.

So, Iraq is full of thugs. Not "islamo-fascists."  Not "freedom fighters". Not loyalists. They're just thugs using religion or ideology or politics as a weapon to be brutes. We know this because our own freedomfighter in the 1780's never systematically eliminated innocent people simply for purposes of inflicting fear. We know this because Fundamentalist Christians in america are defined by doctrinal positions concerning Jesus and Scripture...not by violence. But we know...there are a few thugs who parade under the banner of  "fundamentalist Christian" as long as it serves their purposes.

This is why it is naive to believe if we leave Iraq we rid ourselves of terrorism. It is the nature of a thug to prey on the weak. The thugs in the middle east will only follow us home...and they will pick on us here. See they have no ideology that allows them to declare victory and cease hostilities. It just what they do. They've already done it to us...on 9/11. In fact, its just plain silly to claim Afghanistan is OK but Iraq is not. A thug is a thug.

So the question is simple. When your neighbor cuts down your tree do you confront him of thank your lucky stars he didn't cut down your favorite hedge? Trust me...your hedge will be next. At what point has your neighbor become such a thug that you want to respond? After he stole you telephone...so you can't call 9-11? This war is not going away simply because we want it to. We didn't start it, but we can end it. When the last thug decides enough is enough. That take resolve...and resolve is not for the timid. Nearly every person who ever stood up to a thug was filled with fear...and suffered mightily. They don't go away easily.


So...this is not a war on terrorisn. It's a war against thugs. We can begin with the ones in the middle east who mean us harm, but we have plenty of thugs right here at home who are doing their dirty deeds. Some are politicians. Some are businessmen. Some are teachers. Some are religious leaders. Just remember, the uniform or weapon is just incidental. Look at their tactics. They are the ones who force you to alter your values and habits against your will...just cause they can.

You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is always a pig. You can soften the words you use to describe evil...and may even get away with it with those who have never really confronted evil...but it is still evil. A thug is a thug. I'm with the president on this one. And let's pray we do not become thugs in the process.