&gt; Please explain how targeting innocent civilians for their ethnicity or beliefs is equal to military vs. military operations.<p>It&#x27;s not. I&#x27;m sure the terrorists would actually prefer to be shooting soldiers and high-ranking politicians instead of innocent civilians. But since those targets are too well protected, in their minds the only thing they can do to retaliate against their enemies is to commit terrorist attacks against civilians in their enemies&#x27; homeland.<p>If the roles were reversed and ISIS were the world superpower launching cruise missiles against Houston (some) Americans would surely sign up to do similar things to get back at them. The only reason we don&#x27;t is because we&#x27;re rich and powerful and don&#x27;t have to stoop to that level, not because we&#x27;re incapable of it or somehow more morally enlightened.<p>Edit: see the firebombings and nuclear attacks on Japan in WWII for what the US is capable of when they don&#x27;t have an overwhelming military superiority.