A very simple proposition By Robert Rosenberg: There is a very simple proposition -- terrorism, meaning violent attacks on civilians, is no longer an option. Calling it the poor man's weapon, saying one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter, or all the other ways to "explain" terrorism and thereby legitimize it, can no longer be allowed. National liberation movements, ethnic liberation movements, cultural liberation movements all have one basic choice -- to engage their enemies politically or violently. If they choose violence, they will rule out any chance of political engagement.