Baraka_Guru

By stating we cannot control how terror works, I mean that we cannot artificially reproduce the emotions associated with terrorism, nor can we ignore these emotions, nor can we associate other emotions with them. Feelings of terror cannot easily be forced into a state of happy thoughts—and some would argue it is impossible. Though we can reproduce the conditions that trigger these thoughts, and I think this is what you were referring to with regard to government actions (this applies, as well, to individuals and groups in general when it comes to triggering terror responses in people). This is why I said that it's subjective how we define "terrorism."

When a violent act (or threat of violence) is carried out to support or forward a cause, it tends to be terrorism when it works against us specifically (in most cases, both the violence and the cause). When it works to our benefit (and especially when the violence is completely detached, e.g. in a foreign land), it's not likely going to encourage a response of terror within us.

So, yeah, terrorism and how we define it is subjective, and it is a question of scale and, as you say, intent (or purpose).

Nutjobs acting on the behalf of organizations and nutjobs acting in the name of organizations are two completely different nutjobs.

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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot