yet another example of how the u.s. state department list of states supporting terrorism is a complete fraud. for the most part states don't get on the list when they are linked to a terrorist act, they get on the list when the u.s. government doesn't like them. iraq, for example, got on the list when it invaded kuwait and got off when the u.s. essentially became the government of iraq after it established the CPA. with north korea, the u.s. used the listing as a bargaining chip, one that they bargained away as part of a comprehensive nuclear deal.
i'm not commenting on the deal with north korea at all. i am saying that if you're going to have an official list of state supporters of terrorism that trigger certain sanctions, countries should get on the list if they actually sponsor terrorism and get off the list if don't anymore. but that would require the u.s. government to apply a consistent definition of the word "terrorism", something it has long resisted.
i'm not commenting on the deal with north korea at all. i am saying that if you're going to have an official list of state supporters of terrorism that trigger certain sanctions, countries should get on the list if they actually sponsor terrorism and get off the list if don't anymore. but that would require the u.s. government to apply a consistent definition of the word "terrorism", something it has long resisted.
