Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

The_Jazz · 07-14-2006, 06:33 AM

I have to disagree with hiredgun's definition. I think the kidnappers absolutely fit the definition of "terrorist", although I'll certainly conceed that other terms could certainly fit. One of the things that I think that we all forget is that the word "terrorist" is not an invention of the last 30-50 years and that those living in the Middle East did not invent the term or the strategy behind it (although they have refined both quite a bit).

The members of the People's Will who assassinated Emporer Alexander II in 1888 were branded "terrorists" by the Russian, British and French press (I've read the reports myself, although it's been years). He was the head of state and the commander-in-chief and was wearing an army uniform at the time the bomb went off. Please explain to me how that is NOT a terrorist act when virtually the entirity of Russian historians defines it as such. Were the hijackers on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon not terrorists? Their ideological brethren and compatriots who crashed into the World Trade Center met hiredgun's definition, but those who take action against the military don't meet that same definition? How about the Palestinians who blew up the Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983? The suicide boat bombing of the USS Cole?

Again, I conceed that there may be other terms that are a better fit for these actions technically - "guerilla", for instance or even "partican" - but given that kidnappings are being used to try to force the Israeli goverment to release prisoners, I find it difficult to abandon the "terrorist" label since suicide bombings of commuter buses are used as payback for other Israeli actions.

For the record, I define a "terrorist" as an irregular soldier of a losely organized group that uses violent acts (kidnapping would indeed be included) to attempt to exact revenge or obtain non-monetary concessions from a government.

In short, I think that the Tribune used the term cafefully and correctly.

07-14-2006, 06:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	I have to disagree with hiredgun's definition. I think the kidnappers absolutely fit the definition of "terrorist", although I'll certainly conceed that other terms could certainly fit. One of the things that I think that we all forget is that the word "terrorist" is not an invention of the last 30-50 years and that those living in the Middle East did not invent the term or the strategy behind it (although they have refined both quite a bit). The members of the People's Will who assassinated Emporer Alexander II in 1888 were branded "terrorists" by the Russian, British and French press (I've read the reports myself, although it's been years). He was the head of state and the commander-in-chief and was wearing an army uniform at the time the bomb went off. Please explain to me how that is NOT a terrorist act when virtually the entirity of Russian historians defines it as such. Were the hijackers on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon not terrorists? Their ideological brethren and compatriots who crashed into the World Trade Center met hiredgun's definition, but those who take action against the military don't meet that same definition? How about the Palestinians who blew up the Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983? The suicide boat bombing of the USS Cole? Again, I conceed that there may be other terms that are a better fit for these actions technically - "guerilla", for instance or even "partican" - but given that kidnappings are being used to try to force the Israeli goverment to release prisoners, I find it difficult to abandon the "terrorist" label since suicide bombings of commuter buses are used as payback for other Israeli actions. For the record, I define a "terrorist" as an irregular soldier of a losely organized group that uses violent acts (kidnapping would indeed be included) to attempt to exact revenge or obtain non-monetary concessions from a government. In short, I think that the Tribune used the term cafefully and correctly. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo