Niews and Vews

After reading this article, I came away with one disturbing question. A question that speaks volumes about our current (a) ignorance of everything historic and (b) our position of arrogance.

Piracy or Terror?
I'm really at a loss as to what the essential difference between piracy and terror is. I mean, isn't piracy a form of terrorism and aren't terrorist acutually pirates? The title alone supports an idea that if one had to chose, piracy is the best way to go. As if pirates are some sort of Robin Hood hero. In the epitome of seafaring Navies, pirates were shot first and hanged later. If I wasn't so lazy and persuaded of my point I could quickly dig up some British Naval document or law mandating the death of pirates.

Granted, technically pirates and terrorist are two different classes of disturbances, but only in academia. They both aim to cripple governments, have political greviences, are generally unorganized with limited monies, but are highly motivated, largely communal, and don't shave. Obviously though, in order to be branded a terrorist you have to have 'an American target'.