Terrorists scare people into submission. Hitler used charismatic speaches and silently eliminated his opposition. He is far from a terrorist. He tried to keep everybody from knowing what he was doing, a terrorist would say, "Surrender or I will do this to you!"
Who is "You"?!
The misconception of who you deem a terrorist is based on the one applying the definition, the definition itself is not a constant.
I didn't see a "Surrender or I will do
this to you!" in his annexation of Austria, invasion of half of Czechoslovakia, his blitzkreig invasion of Poland, his disregard for the Munich accords or his lack of faith in the NAP with the USSR.
Clearly, to America, his "this" or "threat" was creepy, for we were not attacked. The rest of Europe, though, I'd say, was subjugated to his will, by brute force -- something I would say is applicable to terrorism. It can also be attributed with early Polish city captures. -- You think every city went down fighting? By the time the Germans hit through the western border most cities just said 'okay go ahead and station some men here'.
As for this...
Terrorists scare people into submission. Hitler used charismatic speaches and silently eliminated his opposition. He is far from a terrorist. He tried to keep everybody from knowing what he was doing, a terrorist would say, "Surrender or I will do this to you!"
You're confusing this because he's a possible terrorist who held public office. Though he had a support group that loved his ideology, I'm sure followers of Al-Qaeda have leaders that do the same for them.
He gave speeches to his followers, cutting out the moderates in his country. Again, I'm sure Al-Qaeda/other terrorists have done the same thing.
Oh and we sort of knew about the war as it happened.
Also, most people in modern terrorist groups are brainwashed by an ideology of sorts, not really in knowledge of their leader's political goals. In the way that Hitler kept concentration camps a little on the down-low, I think it's safe to assume Osama/other dudes did the same regarding their actual intentions of achieving the ideology they so eloquently are able to validate to a susceptible group or body.
We also have no idea what Al-Qaeda is up to on... heck a year to year basis.
It's not about staying secret. It's about terrorizing people for political gain. Whether it's a massive army or a few terrorists, what you have is terrorism. Even if one group pops two towers and the other two countries.
