ABSTRACT
While time may never succeed in rehabilitating the people that Western governments consider terrorists today, it still must be conceded that it is a possibility. Nevertheless, the further one goes back in time, the harder it is to make the case that what is considered terrorism today really ever happened in the distant past. Violent extremist is becoming more popular as a term used in discussing "prevention" solutions but terrorism is the tried and trusty term preferred by governments. The seeming embrace of Islamic culture in the interests of restoring peace and security, despite some ultra-conservative detractors, was probably a good idea at the time. The undoing of good intentions, however, has been the permanent overreaction in the West to any unlawful incident that involves a Muslim. Insofar as the groups, both ancient and modern, "extremist" would seem to be the safest shorthand term to apply to proponents of resistance.
