Define terrorism

[ZultanofZex]

a. Please define terrorism.

b. Please give some examples of terrorist groups, present.

c: please give some examples of terrorist groups in history.

d. Please give some examples of terrorism that has worked, ie completed the objectives set by the movement that used terror(ism) to achive their goals.

 

[CurtSibling]

a. Please define terrorism.

b. Please give some examples of terrorist groups, present.

c: please give some examples of terrorist groups in history.

d. Please give some examples of terrorism that has worked, ie completed the objectives set by the movement that used terror(ism) to achive their goals



I will attempt to answer:

A. When the 'enemy' attacks us. The 'enemy' uses terrorists. Our own terrorists are called 'freedom fighters'.

B. ETA, Armed Islamic Group, IRA, al-Qaida, Hamas...
All are considered 'freedom fighters' to someone.
In fact, have a look at these: http://library.nps.navy.mil/home/tgp/tgpndx.htm

C. Malaysian People's Liberation Army, French Resistance, Russian Bolsheviks, Chinese Red Army, Yugoslavian Resistance...All considered 'terrorists' to some people.

D. Liberation of Yugoslavia (WW2), Bolsheviks in Russia (1917), Taliban in Afghanistan (1995-6), Fidel Castro in Cuba (1953)...there are many more.

As a Brit I could say that the Americans used 'terrorism' in the war of independance,
but an American would call Washington's irregular soldiers 'freedom fighters'...It all depends on who you are.

I hope you can see the distinction.

People in power through terror is a not always a bad thing, but more often than not it is.
A man who picks up a gun to gain power, will not be loathe to pick it up agian to maintain power.

 

[G-Man]

A. Use of force or threats of force in order to hurt and strike fear among civilians and/or to affect a group or an organization to act according to the terrorist's will. This is an incomplete definitio though, as the defenition of terrorism also depends on morals and norms.
B. Al qaeda, PLO, Hamas, Hizzbalah, PIJ, etc (I know mostly about terrorism in my region but if you want I'll give you examples from other regions as well)
C. In history almost any army or militia is a terrorist army if we judge them by today's standards.
D. Terrorism had some successes, but few were real success. A terrorist organization that was motivated by a popular movement, took over a country or an area and turned it into a dictatorship lead by the organization's leaders is a success for the terrorist elite, but not for the majority that gave them support.

 

[Hitro]

Originally posted by ZultanofZex
a. Please define terrorism.

b. Please give some examples of terrorist groups, present.

c: please give some examples of terrorist groups in history.

d. Please give some examples of terrorism that has worked, ie completed the objectives set by the movement that used terror(ism) to achive their goals.

a. I agree with G-Man's definition here.

b. Loads of organizations, and loads of armies as well!

c. same

d. Various war where the enemy has been terrorized into surrender. Example: Germany vs. Netherlands 1940.

 

[Unregister]

a) something which inflicts terror in someone

b) see other posts

c) same here

d) see others.

 

[G-Man]

Originally posted by Unregister
a) something which inflicts terror in someone

"Terror" as in fear or as in a result of an act of terrorism?

 

[kmad]

Originally posted by ZultanofZex
a. Please define terrorism.

What a government does, when it's done by a force not controlled by a government

 

[G-Man]

Originally posted by kmad
What a government does, when it's done by a force not controlled by a government

My goverment supports the poor, old, etc. If I help them myself it's terrorism?

 

[kmad]

Damn, you got me

 

[CrazyScientist]

Originally posted by G-Man
A. Use of force or threats of force in order to hurt and strike fear among civilians and/or to affect a group or an organization to act according to the terrorist's will.

By this definition, the US invading Iraq would be an act of terrorism. Scratch that, we're terrorists now, because we are threatening force to affect Iraq to disarm according to our will.

I don't necessarily agree with action in Iraq, but I think calling it terrorism broadens the defintion of the word so much that it loses all meaning. Maybe of you scratched out the "or" in the and/or part, to indicate that the force or threats must deliberately target civlians then I'd buy it.

 

[G-Man]

Originally posted by DamnCommie
By this definition, the US invading Iraq would be an act of terrorism. Scratch that, we're terrorists now, because we are threatening force to affect Iraq to disarm according to our will.

I don't necessarily agree with action in Iraq, but I think calling it terrorism broadens the defintion of the word so much that it loses all meaning. Maybe of you scratched out the "or" in the and/or part, to indicate that the force or threats must deliberately target civlians then I'd buy it.

I'll change it a bit, and tell me what you think:
Deliberate use of force or threats of force on civilians in order to hurt and strike fear among the general population and/or to affect a group, organization or a country to act according to the terrorist's will.

Also, as I said, it does depend on the defenition.

 

[cgannon64]

Terrorism, IMO, is purposely targeting civilians for the purpose of inflicting as much economic damage as possible and causing fear.

By these parameters, even the Allied bombings of Germany could be considered terrorism. Strange, but true.

 

[sween32]

a. a form of guerilla warfare that attacks civilians instead of the government or military.

d. 9/11 worked, IMO. we're paranoid now. just what they wanted.

 

[amadeus]

They don't care about people being paranoid, they just want us DEAD.

 

[cgannon64]

Originally posted by rmsharpe
They don't care about people being paranoid, they just want us DEAD.

Yes but they see paranioa as a nice little handy side effect.

 

[Zcylen]

The EZLN in South Mexico is pin in the A$$, they should be exterminated.
their demands are sooo stupid that can even be discussed, all they want is to kill people.

 

[Sultan Bhargash]

Originally posted by ZultanofZex
a. Please define terrorism.

1. Common agreement in the forums is that it is the deliberate targeting of civilians, to achieve a political aim.

b. Please give some examples of terrorist groups, present.

The KKK, Al Qaeda.

c: please give some examples of terrorist groups in history.

The Jacobins, The Shining Path.

d. Please give some examples of terrorism that has worked, ie completed the objectives set by the movement that used terror(ism) to achive their goals.

Lebanon, mid 80s, terrorists wanted US out, US left.

 

[sysyphus]

Originally posted by ZultanofZex
a. Please define terrorism.

I liked G-man's definition so much that I will just refer the reader to his response above.

Originally posted by ZultanofZex

b. Please give some examples of terrorist groups, present.

Al-Qaieda, Hamas (sp?), those wackos who drive pick up trucks full of fertilisier into governement buildings in the US.

Originally posted by ZultanofZex


c: please give some examples of terrorist groups in history.

FLQ, Fenians

Originally posted by ZultanofZex

d. Please give some examples of terrorism that has worked, ie completed the objectives set by the movement that used terror(ism) to achive their goals.

I will be unpopular for this, but Al-Qaieda has gained considerable success right now, they've widened the divide between the west and Arabic world, caused a deep divide within the western nations, they have helped keep the American economy from rebounding.

 

[EdwardTking]

The word: "terrorism" is derived from various preexisting english words Terror, Terrify, Terrified which are all associated with the "emotional state and feeling of extreme and incapacitating fear". The root word was I believe derived from Latin by French.

Terror Noun something,someone that causes....
Terrify Verb Active inflicting or inducing .....
Terrified Verb Passive being in....
Terrified Adjective

Strangely the normative adjectives Terrific and Terrible have opposite meanings with Terrific meaning very good and Terrible meaning very bad; hence use of passive verb form as adjective.

Terrorism is therefore perhaps best regarded as the
philosophy and practice of inflicting extreme and incapacitating fear.

What the objectives are, is not relevant to the definition.
Who the originator is, is not relevant to the definition.
Who is being terrified, is not relevant to the definition.

Terrorism may be undertaken by a state (Nazis & Iraqis);
an extremist group (Al Quada & IRA) or an individual
(serial killer torturing victim etc).

A key point is that terrorism induces an emotional response.

If you refuse to be terrified; terrorism by its definition fails.

This should not be confused with deterrence which
is about the opposite being intended to either prevent
an aggressive response (permitting a rational response).

IMHO both US/UN policy to threaten Iraq with war/serious consequences are designed to extract a rational response
and neither policies constitute terrorism.

 

[Archbob]

Originally posted by DamnCommie


By this definition, the US invading Iraq would be an act of terrorism. Scratch that, we're terrorists now, because we are threatening force to affect Iraq to disarm according to our will.

I don't necessarily agree with action in Iraq, but I think calling it terrorism broadens the defintion of the word so much that it loses all meaning. Maybe of you scratched out the "or" in the and/or part, to indicate that the force or threats must deliberately target civlians then I'd buy it.

The US isn't there quite yet but coming pretty darn close to it, bullying other countries with its might to get its ways. Its not matierialistic terrorism but I'd define it certainly as "diplomatic terrorism".

My definition is: To strike any target, military or Civilian without solid reason and evidence purely because it benefits the agressor or just because he/they feel like it.

The problem with the US is against Iraq is that they use threats while they still haven't really found what they are looking for which is nuclear weapons or any evidence of weapons of mass destruction.