Not just the naive population.

Lots of "freeman-on-the-land" types are being charged as terrorists. I had two that the CBC was chomping at the bit to sensationalize. Imagine their dismay when it was resolved administratively, without jail time.

For a good example of how they're attacking the Radicals, Google "Dean Clifford" sometime. In jail over a year, even though he keeps beating all his charges.

I have no problem at all assigning the label "terrorist" to people who do things like this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Washington_firebo...).

I wasn't really referring to the ELF or related groups. I was referring to specifically Canadian examples of activits, often native with land right claims, protesting unsound industry.

You forgot secret step 1.5 - infiltrate legitimate groups and provoke them into committing violence, paving way for step 2.

Radical used to mean someone who thought the time for peaceful politics was over. How it means anyone who thinks anything you think is extreme... :(

just... no http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radicalism_%28historical%29

I didn't say that was the origin of the word... ass.

Just... ass.

> ... attempt to shift public perception of environmentalists ...

That might be a little tough, because eco-terrorism is already a thing - I remember the word being used as far back as the early 90s. So they would have to equate participation in the democratic process to burning down housing developments and research facilities, a tall order.

The problem is that, North of the 49th, "eco terrorism" simply means "anyone who dislikes the oil industry"