(no subject)

[theweaselking]

Man arrested with IEDs in the USA, but he's not a "terrorist" because he's white, male, Christian, and was only planning to use the bombs on *protestors* at Jerry Falwell's funeral

Comments

[atlasimpure.livejournal.com]

Terrorism aims for a larger effect, he felt he was merely defending Falwell's memory.

Delusional? Yes.
Terrorism? Not quite.

To use your definition, protection scams would fall under the heading of "terrorism".

[anivair.livejournal.com]

protection scams aren't going ot reach as many eyes and ears. if I scare Apu into paying Jimmy the fish protection money, that's one thing. If I kill Apu for being muslim to send a message to all muslims everywhere, that's terrorism.

[atlasimpure.livejournal.com]

If I kill Apu and his entire family, all the other fish shops on the block will pay me without question.

You imply that terrorism can't be conducted for money.

[anivair.livejournal.com]

No, I imply that money isn't important at all. Terrorism is a tactic. The goals are irrelevant.

[atlasimpure.livejournal.com]

Terror is a weapon, not merely an idea.

In fact, after further consideration, I realize that protection rackets are an excellent scaled down example of how terrorism functions.

It's a system independant of ideology or motive.

[peristaltor.livejournal.com]

Terror is a weapon. . . .

Which makes a "war on terror" (sic) an impossibility. Wouldn't be the first logical impossibility this administration has perpetrated. Won't be the last.

[atlasimpure.livejournal.com]

QF-frackin-T


Almost as logical as a war on "drugs".

[anivair.livejournal.com]

Scaled down to the point that i'm not sure I'd use the word anymore. i think that what seperates our modern idea of a terrorist from someone just using fear as a weapon is the adgenda. But that's semantic, i suppose.

[atlasimpure.livejournal.com]

Most of that modern idea is a result of intentional misuse and spin.

[anivair.livejournal.com]

that's true, but I'm not sure that the idea of pushing an ideology isn't actually a good one. Sure, it removes Vinie the Fish and his thugs who shake down the local pawn shop, but it allows for the christians who blow up abortion doctors and I know what I think does more damage to the most people.

[atlasimpure.livejournal.com]

Adding ideology doesn't remove the requirement for how the method is utilized.

And abortion clinic bombers ARE terrorists and refered to as such by most international listings of terrorist acts.