Steele labors under the misapprehension that the existence of Northern Ireland is the result of a decision reached via some Irish democratic process. There has never been a vote of the Irish people on this question. Sinn Fein is analogous to the Libertarian Party in the U.S. in that it represents the efforts of individuals sympathetic with the radical ends of some of their fellows to achieve change through the political process rather than by violent resistance. And the definition is crucial. People generally define terrorism as an act of violence intended to achieve a political goal committed by some individual or individuals which deliberately targets civilians.
Governments are, of course, anxious to blur the distinction.
By the first definition the attack on the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon several years ago was an act of terrorism. By the second definition it was not. By the second definition the carpet bombing of Hanoi was an act of terrorism. By the first definition it was not. The bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building is more problematic.