A rose by any other name?

In a recent New York Times article, John F. Burns wrote, “Evidence at the London trial showed that several of the plotters, like those on Sept. 11, had traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan for indoctrination and training by extremist groups linked to Al Qaeda.” Really? “Extremist groups?” Come on! If you are a group related to Al Qaeda you have gone way beyond extremist and have passed “Go” and “Collected $200.” Let’s call a spade a spade, shall we? Why won’t the New York Times just call them what they are? Terrorists.