Research in radar polarimetry is hampered by shortcomings of the conventional formulation of polarimetric backscatter concepts. In particular the correct form of the Sinclair backscatter matrix under changes of polarization bases is derived from the antenna voltage (energy transfer) equation yielding the erroneous impression that radar polarimetry is a mongrel between scattering behavior and network performance. The present contribution restores logical consistency in a natural way by introducing the concept of an antilinear backscatter operator. This approach decouples scattering process and network performance, illuminates matrix analytical properties of the radar backscatter matrix and highlights characteristic states of polarization.