I agree with Ed that the Robert Fisk article which he clickied is excellent.

Perle's gobbledegook also makes sense when you understand that what he means is "terrorism is the new Communism": i.e. you brand anything you don't like as terrorism and it's fair game for pursuit and repression without regard to the rule of law or human rights, and forge alliances with even the rottenest of regimes to achieve your objectives on the basis that the end justifies the means.

Coincidentally, a couple of weeks ago I picked up Philip Agee's 1975 "CIA diary" at a charity sale, and it's fascinating to see how relevant it still is when you substitute "terrorism" for "Communism". I'm not at all surprised to see NATO cosying up to the Algerian government.