How can we have a war on terror?

Question

Terrorism is the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes. Now, how can you have a war on a tactic? I don't disagree that it's wrong to use terror, but how can we win a war on something that's so widespread and has been around forever? When did terrorism begin? as far as I know it began whenever people started to argue. Who are the terrorists? Anyone and everyone. How do we know who will use that tactic and when? We DON'T. Maybe we should have a war on war as well to just square it all off. How about a war on air strikes, and offensives? Oh, I know! A war on business strategies, I think those are getting out of control and hurting Americans too. Do you know how many people die from McDonald's ads?

War on terrorism can't be won because you can't fight something has no definite place, person, or time. I don't understand, how does the babbling monkey continue deceiving American people into believing in an impossible enemy?

Please tell me I'm wrong

I am sorry, but does my questiona t any point indicate that we shouldn't do anything about terrorists? or the legality of terrorism? All I am doing is trying to point out the absurdity of this war, nothing more. Also, as many of you hopefully know, US got attacked by a group from Afganistan, but Bush used the war on terror to move to Iraq so he can hide the real reason why he went there, isn't it obvious? If he is using "war on terror" symbolically, then why are we in Iraq, no one attacked us from there.

Answer 1

Terrorism is actually the use of /illegal/ violence and intimidation. War for instance, isn't terrorism, nor are 'threats' made at the negotiating table - similarly, a police officer threatening a criminal, then violently shooting him when he doesn't comply is not terrorism.

Terrorism as we think of it today doesn't really date back any farther than the 19th century, when Anarchists used bombs to try to destabilize and bring down monarchist governments. The kind of organized campaigns of terrorism we see today are very nearly a 20th century development.

So, if terrorism hasn't always existed, it clearly doesn't have to always exist (unlike violence in the broader sense).

However, it is, as you point out, still only a tactic - metaphorically weapon - and you can't make war on a tactic. George Bush declaring a 'War on Terror' in response to 9/11 would be like FDR declaring a 'War on Bombs' in response to Pearl Harbor. It ignores the actual enemy, and focuses on the means the enemy used to attack.

While it might be prudent to gaurd against an enemy's prefered mode of attack, doing so exclusively offers little hope of effective defense (the enemy can just change or improve tactics) and no hope at all of victory.

The current situation is not entirely unlike the Cold War in one respect. The weapon of the cold war - the nuclear-armed ballistic missle - could not effectively be defended against. Terrorist attacks, similarly cannot be stopped, not matter how carefully you try to defend against them. But, the unstoppable weapons of that era were never used, because effective deterents were established against them. The same could be done to end the era of terrorism - not by hunting down and killing terrorists, or creating defenses against the last successful terrorist attack, but by establishing deterents that would make the consequences of using terrorism to advance a political goal much more detrimental to that goal than the terrorist tactics could possibly be advantageous to it.

Answer 2

There is an old tactic the US gov has come to master.

When you are caught stealing, yell "thief! thief!" and run.
When the US commits terrorism against an defenseless population it accuses them of terrorism. When the Soviets attempted point out that the US was forcing it into an arms race, the US would say that there was a missile gap (!). The US assaulted democratic leaders in Latin America, when they were caught, they accused the Sandinistas of being anti democratic (!)

It has worked this far because the US population allows its government to do however many crimes it pleases as long as it claims to be liberating someone. Goes to show, cut education spending and you can get away with anything.

So, in the end, an informed citizen will see beyond the War on Terror and see the WAR OF TERROR against whoever Iraqis dare protect their natural resources from the US military and corporations.

Peace.

Answer 3

One of the biggest Terrorist organizations came from the United States. They were known as the Klu Klux Klan (KKK), and they killed black citizens for sport. The Government did not take action against them, because many of the Congressmen and other elected officials were a part of this group. Senator Robert Byrd is a former member of the KKK. The Government did not take actions to destroy the Klan until they started killing whites who sympathized with the Civil Rights movement. If the KKK had not started killing whites, then they would be as strong as they were in the 1960s.

Answer 4

You are so wrong. I understand your confusion though. You must be watching the distorted reports on the news that are put out by the far left. Try watching Fox News for more accurate and honest reporting of the truth.

The terrorists are the bad guys.. . . . they want to kill all Americans, and wipe Israel off the map. They are the offensive team. They are the aggressors. We want to defend our lives and our freedom, so we are the defensive team. Get it yet?

Your insult to Bush, by calling him a "babbling monkey" is further proof of how ignorant you are. (like your question wasn't enough proof) (where do these people come from? Have they been hidden under some rock all their lives??)

Answer 5

Have you seen Bush and fellow fascists approval ratings? There's some indication Americans have become aware that the price for ultimate safety the Totalitarian way is too expensive in that it requires the sacrifice of all privacy and freedom.

There's also some indication people have concluded that respect and trust would give us safety without any self sacrifice.. unless you're a totalitarian, in which case you'll be required to give up that which literally self identifies you. For those I'd advise, stick a lolly pop in you mouth and go cuddle in a thick quilt.

Answer 6

Thats more of a what should we call it type of question. I think we all understand the concept of a war on terror. There is a lot of people, in the name of Islam, that are more passionate about hating the U.S. than they are about improving their own little part of the world. So war on terror sounds better than "got to kill all wackos that hate America"
What bothers me is the Terrorist wanted by Cuba for blowing up a Cuban Airliner, and he freely lives in Florida, maybe we should remane it "war on terrorist who hate America, and screw thr other countries"

Answer 7

cases have replaced my chum. Im confident if that IRA stuff could be happening now, so lots extra could have taken place. it is easily no longer a warfare on faith. There are terrorist obtainable attempting to kill harmless human beings. they're making use of the religion to back there schedule, so which you're able to desire to ask the question WHY. we are looking for a terrorist that has threaten our u . s . a . with killing of harmless human beings. particular we've additionally killed harmless human beings on an identical time as searching for the terrorist and that's by way of fact those Cowards cover among the civilians. in the event that they desire to combat step out interior the open and dont use harmless human beings as shields. it is your opinion that individuals dont like Muslims, i individually have no longer something against them. merely by way of fact there are some undesirable apples does not recommend the entire batch is ruined. in case you didnt comprehend, I actual have served 21yrs interior the militia and have been in contact in each conflict and warfare on the grounds that 1991. right it is somewhat history for you earlier you start up up going off. Who helped Iraq in the process the Iran-Iraq warfare, particular it grew to become into the solid previous US. Who helped the Al Qaeda build the caves interior the mountains of Afghanistan, as quickly as extra the US. it incredibly is unlucky they grew to become against us as quickly as we helped them combat there battles. The hyperlinks under gets you reported.

Answer 8

Its simple we fight the people who are against the people and do it to create fear(terror). These people care nothing for the lives of innocents so they are terrorists, they just want to kill everything living including themselves most of the time. So we can't let people like that run around.

Answer 9

Very astute.By having a war on terror it becomes a non-ending war of profit..for the only people who matter to our government!The very wealthy.........Something to keep in mind also is that a corparation is considered a legal "person"(at least here in Michigan)

Answer 10

The Jihadis declared war on us, and we're starting, indirectly, to sometimes defend against them - but we haven't declared a war on jihad.

We SHOULD, but we haven't.