Fascists?

Fascism: A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.

CNN:

President Bush said the arrests are a "stark reminder" that the U.S. is "at war with Islamic fascists."

No, this time I'm not going to say this is a simple the pot calling the kettle black, no matter how black the pot might be. This is a case of the pot, of whatever color, calling the kettle black when the kettle is in fact chartreuse or aquamarine or something. Whoever the terrorists, real and imagined, are, they are not fascists. Centralization of authority? Not a chance. Bin Laden or Zawahiri as dictators? Over whom? Socioeconomic controls? Yeah, right. Terrorism is their defining characteristic, but they are in no position to suppress their opposition; in fact, their chief "opposition," the idiot who called them fascists, is empowered by their actions. Belligerent nationalism? That is the pot calling the kettle black, when the kettle has no nation to be nationalistic about.

And arrests as a "stark reminder," when both the US and Britain have arrested hundreds of people on bogus charges, or none at all, and can do so any time they please (such as when they need to wipe other stories off of the front pages). Show us the evidence; convince us. I don't trust either government to tell the truth about anything.