What is a good comprehensive definition of "Terrorist"?

Question

How do they differ from "non terrorist"?

Answer 1

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Terrorism is the systematic use or threatened use of violence to intimidate a population or government and thereby effect political, religious, or ideological change.[1][2] Terrorist attacks are designed to influence the broader society to which those killed, injured, or taken hostage belong. The dramatic focus of mass media is often ascribed as amplifying and broadcasting feelings of intense fear and anger that make terrorism more effective in the modern world. As a type of unconventional warfare, terrorism is designed to weaken or supplant existing political landscapes through capitulation or acquiescence as opposed to subversion or direct military action.

The term is also used pejoratively to assert that its violence targets "innocent civilians," or that it is immoral, wanton, unjustified, indiscriminate, or executed "with disregard for human life." According to some definitions of terrorism used by states and governments, terrorists are actors who do not belong to any recognized armed force, or who do not adhere to their rules, and who are therefore regarded as "rogue actors." Groups that call themselves separatists, revolutionaries, guerrillas and other specific terms are often referenced vaguely and pejoratively by their enemies as terrorists.

Answer 2

fact from fiction, truth from diction, most of these people could not get a grasp of terrorism if they had Velcro in their palms. Terrorism is the systematic use of terror as a mean of coercion. That is not limited to Jehadist, turban wearing guys with AK-47s, Hezbollah, Hamas, the PLO, Al Qaeda or any of the usual subject. People want to try to select what terror and by whom to decide who is a terrorist. The very people America calls patriots were terrorist. Those at the Alamo were terrorist. Whole armies are not exempt but the media would want you to think so. the act is the act. Like a woman giving it up after she has been wined and dined, and taken out and bought a new pair os fancy shoes. She can say she wasn't for sale. he can say he didn't buy it. But the fact of the matter, there was money spent and/or gifts exchanged. He didn't get it without a dime coming from his pocket, and she didn't give it without a penny going in hers. In this past conflict Israel was the terrorist. Hezbollah attack soldiers. Israel responded by attacking the Lebanese people who had nothing to do with it. And they systematically sustain it. bombing bridges, hospitals, UN observers, apartments full of unarmed women and children, roads power plants and airports. Hezbollah only started firing rockets after the jets rained terror on the people of Lebanon. In this example terrorist = Israel.

Answer 3

A terrorist is much like the playground bully. He doesn't have to always be hurting someone, but the implication that he might scares the masses into submission. I would classify Hitler as a non-terrorist even though he probably killed more than the present day terrorists. Hitler marched armies into countries and took over; terrorists use embedded agents who randomly kill or mutalate a few to strike fear into the population. The key to terrorism is randomness of acts...you never know who will be next.

Answer 4

Terrorist is :
kill civilians
have no clear cause or reason for the attacks on ppl
terror groups are used by the occupiers to subdue the ppl like in Iraq and Palestine.
Freedom fighter can be called terrorist by a government Gorge Washington was called terrorist by the English ans so was Mandela

Answer 5

They cause terror. That's about it. And, much like other crimes, the person labeled a terrorist is guilty until proven innocent. The problem is, people want to put a non-terrorist face on a terrorist image, the main one being a Arabic speaking Muslim.

Answer 6

A terrorist, strictly speaking, is someone who uses threats and violence to acheive their desired outcome. Generally they are people with radical political or religious beliefs.

Webster describes terrorism as "the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion."

History has shown that terrorism is only successful on a short term basis. Every dictatorship there ever was, could be viewed as a form of terrorism.

Answer 7

Most armies will target civilians and say that they didn't, so by most definitions, all armies are terrorists. No matter what spin they put on the news, they do kill randomly, indiscriminately, and terrorize the affected population.... I guess that makes us, terrorists too.

Answer 8

A terrorist terrorizes other people. A non-terrorist doesn't.

Answer 9

Terrorism is the systematic use or threatened use of violence to intimidate a population or government and thereby effect political, religious, or ideological change. Terrorist attacks are designed to influence the broader society to which those killed, injured, or taken hostage belong.

Answer 10

A terrorist is someone who disrupts normal life by attacking civilians, while not under the guise of their own country. Terrorists do what they do, not to protect, but to destroy life.