Keys to be a "good" and "sympathetic" terrorist:
a) Be white (extra points if you are also Christian):
- IRA
- Taliban in the 80's (afghans are white enough)
b) End up on the winning side of the conflict:
- IRA (they're now respectable, right?)
- Mandela (had his movement floundered, he would be about as celebrated/respected as Arafat)
c) Keep yourself useful to the USA, and you're golden:
- Contras
- Taliban in the 80's
- Kurds (the Turks consider them terrorists worse than ISIS)
d) Don't attack countries USA needs to play ball with:
- Chechens (since USA needs Russia's cooperation, they're out of luck)