It's the journalist who are making this mistake in my opinion. They've been making a distinction between Al Qaeda and every other terrorist group. To them, any group besides Al Qaeda is an illegitimate target. This notion is necessary because it enables them to insult the President as a fool that's going after the wrong enemy.
I don't believe that those in Homeland Security have any problem understanding that Islamic nuts are the enemy here.
They've been making a distinction between Al Qaeda and every other terrorist group. They're all in it together. There are Chechens and Somalis in Iraq. America, Britain, Australia, Poland, the Coalition in Iraq, NATO in Afghanistan, Israel, Russia, India and the Philippines (still, whether they want to be or not)are allies or belligerents in WWIV. Gaza, Chechnya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kashmir and Mindanao are theaters of operation.