Attention: Oxford Dictionary

Via the BBC, the UN seeks a definition of terrorism.  They've apparently been working on a definition since 1996, but despite the sterling leadership of Mr. Annan they've had trouble.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has urged world leaders to agree on a universal definition of terrorism...

A UN treaty has been stalled for years over the definition of a terrorist.

A new UN proposal calls terrorism any act intended to intimidate a population or to compel a government or an international body to act.

"The targeting and deliberate killing of civilians and non-combatants cannot be justified or legitimised by any cause or grievance," it adds.

Mr Annan wants the proposed UN terrorism convention to be agreed on by world leaders in time for a UN world summit in September.

"A simple, clear statement bringing in moral clarity that maiming and killing of civilians is unacceptable regardless of one's cause I think will satisfy all of us," he added.

I'm not quite sure what took nine years.  "The targeting and deliberate killing of civilians and non-combatants cannot be justified or legitimised by any cause or grievance."  Sounds pretty good to me, though I would make it "the deliberate targeting and killing..."  But, as with much that passes for UN deliberations this got caught up in the politics of the Israeli - Palestinian issue.

The proposed convention has been stuck in a committee since 1996. The debate has focused on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa backed Mr Annan's latest definition, telling Reuters news agency that it could serve as the "basis for consensus".

However, "resisting occupation is a different issue altogether", he said.

Yep, gotta allow those occupation resisters to slaughter children.  I can definitely see how it's "a different issue altogether."  Not.

Let's hope that Mr. Annan, in the wake of the London and Egypt bombings, with memories of 9-11, of Beslan, of Bali, of Madrid, of Pan Am 103, of the Embassy bombings, and the other tragic losses of civilian life etched in our memories, can find the strength to call it by it's rightful name and finally define terrorism for his UN.  Once that's done maybe we can work on Reuters and AP.

UPDATE:  Why the AP?  See here.

UPDATE: Traffic Jam.