A persistent problem writing about politics these days is that we encounter so many stupid ideas and so much stupid behavior that it is difficult to keep track of it all. Hence columns like this, touching on a range of examples thereof.

The Trump administration's use of the term "narco-terrorism," which threatens to undermine our already precarious understanding of the concept of terrorism and empty the word of all meaning.

When I used to teach it in classes like International Conflict, I would define terrorism as "the use or threat of use of the most proscribed forms of violence against innocent targets in order to create fear for political purposes."

There were other definitions available, but just about all had the same key elements: the threat or use of violence; innocent, usually random (civilian) targets; the idea of spreading fear ("terror") among a broader audience; and a set of political objectives or demands.

Now which of those elements apply to drug-trafficking boats off the coast of Venezuela?

The Trump administration's (them again) claim that those questioning the legality of the boat attacks are siding with the drug traffickers.

Let us repeat some basics: Demanding that due process be adhered to in deporting those accused of being in our country illegally is not siding with........

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