I have major objections to your 99% statistic, IMO that was pulled out of ye ol arse.

You have missed or ignored some points, one was a formalized political structure the other was formal troops attacking military targets. The Cole attack was done by goons in a boat, not in uniform, roaming around a harbor and in fact over 16 serviceman on the Cole, who were there to prevent harbor attacks, noticed the terrorists but thought they were simply civilians in the water. That is the key point in what is terrorist and what isn't.

You are throwing up a lot of gray area. If the boat that hit the Cole had been flying (for instance) a HAMAS flag and all men were dressed in black coming at the Cole, it would have surely been fired on. Instance like the Cole happen because US serviceman, no matter what the media says, attempt to protect civilians first and kill the enemy second.

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An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting.

"promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare"

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.