I think that Amaram is weak, meaning he doesn't know what is right and wrong. Alethi way is to be ruthless, as they think a perfect soldier should be. That act was very like that. On other hand Amaram was guided by Gavilar, who, in recent years before he was killed, liked the old way, honorable ways, so Amaram is(or at least, was) not sure what is the right thing to do at the time.
He also thinks that Darkeyes are inferior to Lighteyes (i mean, he believes that the way he thinks that water is wet, there is no doubt in his mind about that), so he got convinced that its the right thing to do (can't have those incompetent little darkeyes soldier have a Blade and Plate, now can we? They might hurt themselves with it ).
Amaram feels that he should be honorable because of Gavilar, not because he really belives in honor. For example, Dalinar really craved Navani and his brother's throne. Instead of taking it, he promised himself that he will never, ever take it.
Amaram isn't a bad person. He just can't know what is the right and wrong thing to do, so he needs to have someone whom he respects to tell him what is right and wrong. Amaram is a soldier, not a leader, sadly. Dalinar on the other hand has no problem knowing what is right and what is wrong
Also, since someone brought up terrorist and the word cowardly in same line, I think that pershaps you should read Alamut by Vladimir Bartol. It will certanly give you an interesting view of that sad act. I think that there are two main reason for this. Either hate or manipulation from another person. Regardless, if you don't feel like reading it,a summary is a good way to give you something to think about it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamut_(1938_novel)