Don't do what I do, Do what I say

What do you call someone who tries to frighten people or governments into doing what he/she wants by using or threatening violence?

a terrorist

What do you call someone who provides financial support for terrorist activities?...Is it a crime?

"When the Bush administration shut down the nation's largest Muslim charity five years ago, officials of the Dallas-based foundation denied allegations it was linked to terrorists and insisted that a number of accusations were fabricated by the government.

Now, attorneys for the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development say the government's own documents provide evidence of that claim. "

(Los Angeles Times)

In fact, the US government is funding terrorists in Iran. Why? This is one way they have chosen to "persuade" the Iranian government to give up its nuclear programme. This is interesting. The UN says that US claims about Iran's nuclear programme are "unreliable". Sounds kind of like the alleged weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. But lets just say we really could trust the US in its claims about Iran's nuclear programme. Let's just say we could trust the US government every time it tells us that someone poses a threat to us that warrants an act of terrorism sponsored by US taxpayers. Do you believe this is the first time the American government has funded such activity, not just in Iran, but in the Americas and all over the world?

(At the same time the US government uses Iranian weapons to stir up trouble in Iraq)

Does that mean that there are times when terrorism is acceptable behaviour and perhaps necessary? Is it acceptable when a government is condoning the terror?

Terrorism has certainly existed for a long time and been perpetrated by all kinds of people in all kinds of places. But when exactly is it OK to be a terrorist?