Who do you consider a terrorist?

Question

After I read the following discussion on terrorism – http://www.geocities.com/ulafrique/on_terrorism.html - I felt obligated to share the article with you. Ronald Reagan once said that, “one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist.”

In the 1770s, North Americans resisting British impositions (acts that eventually laid the foundation for “We the people …”) were called terrorists and insurgents by the British. Over the years, several others have been called terrorists and insurgents for simply resisting entities seeking to dictate and/or plunder from the nationals.

Oh, before you start talking about Muslims and Islam, let me set the record straight: I am a Christian and grew up, as a child, in a nation where Christianity and Islam are major religions. All the Muslims in my town lived on my side of the town and some are next-door neighbors. I know that Muslims are somewhat a very communal people, keep mostly to themselves ...

... and most have mindset that parallels that of the Christian's Holiness Pentecostals or the Mormons. I believe what we call the “Muslims are trying to take over the world” is in fact Islam’s version of Christianity’s “to evangelize the world.” Hold on! I am not finished! Did you know that Islam’s Kuran and the Jewish Torah also have accounts of the Christian Old Testament? Did you know that the dramatic hangings and draggings of Western invaders by the Middle Easterners we were informed about are exactly what the Jews are instructed to do, according to the Christian Old Testament, to "infidels"?

Well, I had to put a lid on, since I know that your motto-mouth may be running without brakes. Now, just who do you consider a terrorist?

Answer 1

Instilling fear in people is terrorism, eg. "shock and awe", "all options are on the table".

Anyone who uses force or the threat of force to coerce others into compliance and obedience is a terrorist.

"War is terrorism practiced by the rich.
Terrorism is war practiced by the poor."
- unknown


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Answer 2

" Did you know that Islam’s Kuran and the Jewish Torah also have accounts of the Christian Old Testament? Did you know that the dramatic hangings and draggings of Western invaders by the Middle Easterners we were informed about are exactly what the Jews are instructed to do, according to the Christian Old Testament, to "infidels"? "

Ah, I think you have that backwards. The Torah came first. In what the Christian Bible that incorporated a greek translation of it. And, from a Jewish point of view, there is no justification for what Muslim terrorists do based on the Torah.

Btw, that is a false attribution. Reagan never said that nor would he considering that such sentiments are more likely found on the far left of the political spectrum while he was on the right.
Rather, it was said by the head of a news agency (Reuters?) and was used to justify the media's reluctance to call terrorists by name.

Answer 3

It's not that easy a question to answer. I would say that a terrorist has the purpose of striking terror into the hearts of a civilian population - same purpose as "shock and awe". Then the means terrorists use: I think we could agree that a terrorist would tend to specifically target civilian populations for the purpose of breaking down resistance and instilling terror, and would deliberately hit where a number of non-military parts of the population would be affected. I would suggest that when they are attacking military targets, then they can deserve the name of freedom fighters, whether we agree with their concept of freedom or not.
Attacking civilian portions of an occupying nation (I mean those civilians that are taking part in the occupation) might not be legitimately called terrorist. We saw this done in occupied France, occupied Poland, etc.
However if the nature of the attacks in such circumstances were particularly horrible (rape, torture, slaughtering of children), it would at least warrant the name of crime, and if the intention were terror, then the word terrorist might be appropriate.
That is my own thinking, I don't know if it helps or not...
Any one can draw their own conclusions about whether western nations are presently engaging in acts of terrorism or not. My purpose is not to point fingers, but to try to define what we are talking about, in a fair way. This definition would also affect how we denominated acts by anti-american or anti-western groups: when they are in their own country, and not attacking their own countrymen, I'm not sure that is terrorism. when they prepare to export that to civilian populations elsewhere, perhaps we can talk about terrorism.
Then again, one can ask the question: Can any sort of terrorism ever be justified? Which would carry us to the question, of course, "Can war ever be justified?" - a question that has been kicking around for centuries, and will be continued to be kicked around.

Answer 4

A terrorist is one who choses to attack non combatants to weaken a population. As the name states, the intent is to terrorize a population.

North American 'freedom fighters' didn't sail to England to slaughter British children. If the Muslim extremists would only attack military targets, it'd be easier to consider them a something other than diesesed navel lint. Once you have a group that feels the way to get it's point across is to blow up nurseries and nightclubs they have little right to exist (muslim fanatic, catholic fanatic, whatever).

The reason that this is now being considered a 'muslim' issue is by their choice. Read the links

The kids are forced to hate. Battered constantly with the message of the glory of being a brutal murderer. Hearing that Allah wants this and praises this kind of coward.

What hope is left with that kind of pathetic culture?

Answer 5

Anyone who commits or condones acts of aggression on others designed only to gain notoriety for a cause. Attacks aimed at the weak for their shock potential... Jim

Answer 6

A terrorist is someone whose use force to strike fear into someone to make them do what they want. Anyone who does that is a terrorist. A terrorist can be from all walks of life.

Answer 7

I consider GOD to be a terrorist. He threatens me with eternal damnation if I dont beleive in Him. Thats a terroristic threat - using the threat of fear to induce someone into thinking your way....

Answer 8

Just look at this :

http://www.prophetofdoom.net/article.aspx?g=406&i=46003

Answer 9

HEY YOU JUST DON'T KNOW ANYMORE !!!!