When do gangs become terrorists? If a Blood or Crip is trying to kill Americans, are they not terrorists? Do they lose their rights? If the battlefield includes America, then who becomes a combatant? How about the anti-government militias?
Although, we have already seen the US government kill innocent people while trying to kill someone they thought was a radical militiaman after trying to frame him for a non-violent crime. So it is not all that unreasonable that the FBI would be fine firing on citizens, and if the US is classified a battlefield, then citizens can become combatants.
To me, the deplorable security views are the ones that send troops in to fight a quick war, then leave them there for a decade to build infrastructure and get shot at. Either go in to win or dont go, but half-assing a war is truly deplorable. And that is what the majority of both parties has done since WWII.
I have been preaching this since the mid 80's - terrorists use violence, or the threat of the use of violence, to further a political cause. [Official DoD Definition].
Either go in to win or dont go, but half-assing a war is truly deplorable.
QFT.