It’s war.
We cannot simply re-classify or redefine the actions of those who kill us and openly seek to destroy us. When a state’s military conducts regular attacks upon another, it is by definition an act of war. We may not like it. We may even try to redefine it. And we may ultimately decide that such provocation does not warrant an in-kind response. But it is what it is, regardless. We need not conflate the “non-state” or “sub-national” definition of a terrorist group in order to justify targeting – militarily or financially – any state or group that kills or seeks to kill our civilians or soldiers.
As unclear and muddled as is Bush’s response to the war with Iran, I fear an even less productive and muddled response from a Democrat president.
When do we get a grown-up in the White House again? It’s been a long wait.