What is meant, really, when terrorists "take responsibility" for some bloody deed? Certainly the people behind the bombings in Madrid today are not taking responsibility in the sense of willing to accept the legal consequences; you are sure they are doing their best to avoid being caught. Taking responsibility is what responsible people do when they take principled actions and are willing to face the consequences; this "taking responsibility" here is nothing more than a sadistic and cowardly calling of the score, and need to be called as such. This and other political euphemisms make the ugly and disgusting appear tolerable and even reasonable; that is all they are good for, and they need to go.