Definition of "terrorist"

Michael Rivero's thought for the day on 13 Nov. 2008 (via WhatReallyHappened):

"The seizing or detaining, and threatening to kill, injure, or continue to detain, another individual in order to compel a third person (including a governmental organization) to do or abstain from doing any act as an explicit or implicit condition for the release of the individual seized or detained." or "A violent attack upon an internationally protected person (as defined in section 1116(b)(4) of title 18, United States Code) or upon the liberty of such a person."-- Official US Department of State definition of a terrorist.