What is terrorism? and.....

[RedlineTA]

who should we be afraid of? If anyone at all.

I believe that terrorism is an attack on an institution through the use of fear, propaganda and misinformation.

Debate.

P.S-No name calling or using life experience as a justifier. You gotta point or idea back it up with logic.

[jerome_oneil]

McVeigh was by defenition an act of terrorism. He was motivated by political goals and political ends, driven by the feds acts at Ruby Ridge and Waco.

However, that does not change the fact that the vast majority of acts of terrorism in today's world are perpetrated by young Muslim men. I believe that is a result of abject poverty, of the continued occupation of the West Bank, and exploitation by Muslims in positions of power that gain from that mix.

[RedlineTA]

Originally Posted by jerome_oneil

McVeigh was by defenition an act of terrorism. He was motivated by political goals and political ends, driven by the feds acts at Ruby Ridge and Waco.

However, that does not change the fact that the vast majority of acts of terrorism in today's world are perpetrated by young Muslim men. I believe that is a result of abject poverty, of the continued occupation of the West Bank, and exploitation by Muslims in positions of power that gain from that mix.

My only objection to this is that something that keeps ringing in my ears.....

"Cynics have often commented that one state's "terrorist" is another state's "freedom fighter"."

I think of civil rights, abolitionists, everyone who revolted against England and etc..They too were viewed as terrorists during their time.

and in no way shape or form is this supporting terrorism or aggression towards us.

[prodigal27]

I believe the most famous attacks are by Muslims, however this does not stray from the definition. Also charges of "terrorism" brought forth by our government are politically and emotionally charged. Neither of which are definitions by law and should play a part in court systems.
The "act of causing terror", is always defined in terrorism charges, but you only see them in regards to foreign plots. If you think of it from a side perspective, when we accidentally bomb a school in Iraq, we don't consider it terrorism. However it is viewed so in the eyes of those family members, and rightly so. All we see this as, is collateral damage.

[RedlineTA]

Originally Posted by prodigal27

I believe the most famous attacks are by Muslims, however this does not stray from the definition. Also charges of "terrorism" brought forth by our government are politically and emotionally charged. Neither of which are definitions by law and should play a part in court systems.
The "act of causing terror", is always defined in terrorism charges, but you only see them in regards to foreign plots. If you think of it from a side perspective, when we accidentally bomb a school in Iraq, we don't consider it terrorism. However it is viewed so in the eyes of those family members, and rightly so. All we see this as, is collateral damage.

Precisely.

Terrorist to us, Freedom fighter to them

Freedom fighter to us, terrorist to them.

[Gaolee]

One of the differences between a freedom fighter and a terrorist is choice of targets. It is a messy distinction, because you could consider the allies firebombing in Dresden in WWII a terrorist act under some definitions.

But, here goes anyway. A terrorist chooses soft targets. The whole intent is to spread mayhem and fear. The IRA bombed Harrod's department store in London. They were not likely to kill anybody in the military, just women shopping and their children. The PLO attacked cruise ships, as another example. The target wasn't military, it was relatively defenseless people.

The more defenseless the target, the more terrorist the act. Attacking a military installation falls more on the freedom fighter side of the ledger although in peacetime it is either to start a war or an act of terrorism, while attacking an office building in peacetime falls squarely on the terrorist side.

[prodigal27]

I also think this has the majority of the blame on the Bush administration. He said "Terrorism" because it's a scary word, it incites terror.. He also said the "Axis of Evil", which as we all know, in politics it's very bad policy to call multiple countries "Evil". Shortly after, they retracted and apologized for using the phrase. However, 'Terrorism' is a real word, and it stuck.

[RedlineTA]

Originally Posted by prodigal27

I also think this has the majority of the blame on the Bush administration. He said "Terrorism" because it's a scary word, it incites terror.. He also said the "Axis of Evil", which as we all know, in politics it's very bad policy to call multiple countries "Evil". Shortly after, they retracted and apologized for using the phrase. However, 'Terrorism' is a real word, and it stuck.

Also Axis of Evil is reference to WW with the alliance of enemy countries. Thus inciting old fears, and resentments.

Gaolee, by your definition school shootings and etc are terrorism.

[Gaolee]

Originally Posted by RedlineTA

Gaolee, by your definition school shootings and etc are terrorism.

Yes, and I would agree they are acts of terrorism by deranged people. The intent is to do something sensationally awful by killing people when they least expect it, and for no predicatble reason. That's terrorism.

[jerome_oneil]

The IRA also made public apologies about non-combatant deaths. BBC NEWS | N Ireland | IRA statement in full Was it terrorism when they were firing rockets at MI5 Headquarters?

[RedlineTA]

Originally Posted by jerome_oneil

The IRA also made public apologies about non-combatant deaths. BBC NEWS | N Ireland | IRA statement in full Was it terrorism when they were firing rockets at MI5 Headquarters?

Wouldn't that be considered an act of war?

[jerome_oneil]

Originally Posted by RedlineTA

Wouldn't that be considered an act of war?

As far as the IRA was concerned, they were at war. So yes.

[SXSMITH]

Originally Posted by RedlineTA

who should we be afraid of? If anyone at all.

Anyone who has stated they want to kill us. And some of the people I have on a list.

Many of them kinda look like this...

[Dakota Kid]

Oh, SX he is not a terrorist!!! He is a FREEDOM FIGHTER!!!

[county]

Terrorism is something the other guy did.