What's more, according to the "Hardball" host, "acts of war are not bad in themselves." [audio available here]
"We never said that in our country's history," Chris Matthews insisted on the March 5 "Hardball" program.
"Well, of course acts of war are bad, if they're committed against innocent American civilians," Republican strategist Ron Christie responded.
Matthews refused to concede the point, however: "That's right, that's called a criminal act of terrorism."