What is terrorism?

[aix_xpert]

What specifies the difference between simple murder and terrorism? Why wasn't the 5 DPD murders considered terrorism? Why was this alt-right attack terrorism but the OSU homecoming attack not? Why was the Ft. Hood shooting not classified as terrorism but rather as a workplace violence incident? Why aren't workplace violence incidents considered terrorism? I ask this question to both sides here: What makes a specific attack an act of terror vs. simple murder over differing views?

 

[imprimis]

What makes a specific attack an act of terror vs. simple murder over differing views?

Who the attackers are, who the victims are and who is making the determination.

 

[Cowpoke]

IMO if you try to kill people to cause fear in a population much larger than the individuals you specifically killed, its terrorism.

If you were fired from a small bank, and you go in and kill a bunch of people, you were exacting revenge on that group. Thats mass murder IMO, not really terrorism.

If you hate banks in general and wish to cause fear in all people that work for banks in general, and you walk in one and shoot it all up.... That's terrorism.

The difference is the first one was intended to hurt specific people. The second was to literally spread terror beyond the scope of the actual attack.

 

[CBradSmith]

Who the attackers are, who the victims are and who is making the determination.

From a political perspective, bingo!

The Left loooooves creating and implying those distinctions.

 

[Cowpoke]

From a political perspective, bingo!

The Left loooooves creating and implying those distinctions.

Yup, only the left.

 

[Cowpoke]

What specifies the difference between simple murder and terrorism? Why wasn't the 5 DPD murders considered terrorism? Why was this alt-right attack terrorism but the OSU homecoming attack not? Why was the Ft. Hood shooting not classified as terrorism but rather as a workplace violence incident? Why aren't workplace violence incidents considered terrorism? I ask this question to both sides here: What makes a specific attack an act of terror vs. simple murder over differing views?

To apply my personal definition to your examples...

Nazi dude, Terrorism
Cop shootings.. Terrorism
OSU crash...... Not sure what her motive was. Doesn't seem like she was trying to incite fear in some larger group. So probably just an insane random murder.
F t Hood.. I don't know enough about the situation.
Most Worklace shootings.. not terrorism.

 

[davidallen]

Yup, only the left.

Sarcasm filter not working for some apparently...

 

[Alpha Poke]

It's like libs with irony or reality.

 

[JimmyBob]

F t Hood.. I don't know enough about the situation.

Good gawd.

 

[Medic007]

F t Hood.. I don't know enough about the situation.

It wasn't much of anything really. Just the run of the mill jihadist shooting a bunch American soldiers to death on a military base. Yawn.

 

[wino]

Why was this alt-right attack terrorism but the OSU homecoming attack not?

Because she hated herself more than the crowd she drove into?

But maybe he did too...

 

[aix_xpert]

So I read this thread, and wonder, am I the only one who questions that this weekend's attack isn't terrorism? Its a murder, but given it was targeted to non-random individuals and given the environment could be attributed to rage and not even a planned event. As such, isn't it just murder 2, that's being called terrorism for political gains?

 

[Medic007]

So I read this thread, and wonder, am I the only one who questions that this weekend's attack isn't terrorism? Its a murder, but given it was targeted to non-random individuals and given the environment could be attributed to rage and not even a planned event. As such, isn't it just murder 2, that's being called terrorism for political gains?

Nope. There are several scenarios in my mind that would not be considered terrorism. Not enough facts have come out to know for sure at this point. The investigation is pretty silent.

Of course the immediate jump to terrorism is for political purposes. Both sides do it. You want to control the narrative. I'm sure you remember "If I had a son" and "Hands up! Don't shoot!" Even though those have been thoroughly debunked, plenty of people still believe that shit. Once it's framed a certain way by politicians, that's often how the story remains.

 

[HanAholeSolo2.0]

So I read this thread, and wonder, am I the only one who questions that this weekend's attack isn't terrorism? Its a murder, but given it was targeted to non-random individuals and given the environment could be attributed to rage and not even a planned event. As such, isn't it just murder 2, that's being called terrorism for political gains?

i don't think so. he purposely ran a car into a crowd of people he politically disagreed with and did personally know - so no other motive but politics. i'm sure he hoped for more than one fatality of random people. how is that different than what happened yesterday in spain?

 

[Cowpoke]

So I read this thread, and wonder, am I the only one who questions that this weekend's attack isn't terrorism? Its a murder, but given it was targeted to non-random individuals and given the environment could be attributed to rage and not even a planned event. As such, isn't it just murder 2, that's being called terrorism for political gains?

If that's how you define terrorism then the cop shootings in Dallas would also not be terrorism. Which is fine, as long as you are being consistent.
It was targeting non random individuals, in a charged environment, can be attributed to rage. I don't know the level of planning that went into either event, but I don't know that that matters much.

 

[Cowpoke]

i don't think so. he purposely ran a car into a crowd of people he politically disagreed with and did personally know - so no other motive but politics. i'm sure he hoped for more than one fatality of random people. how is that different than what happened yesterday in spain?

My take as well. The only difference I see is the level of pre planning that went into both. For all we know though the Charlottesville guy had planned that in advance as well. Personally, the amount of preplanning that goes into an attack doesn't change whether its a terrorist attack.

 

[Medic007]

i don't think so. he purposely ran a car into a crowd of people he politically disagreed with and did personally know - so no other motive but politics. i'm sure he hoped for more than one fatality of random people. how is that different than what happened yesterday in spain?

Although very unlikely, what if he was being threatened by a mob and simplly took a reflexive defensive action to remove himself from danger? What if he's mentally I'll?

Again, although very unlikely, terrorist attack isn't the only possibility. The current deal with Tim McVeigh 2.0 is a perfect illustration of what ifs. In the very remote chance that something other than terrorism ends up being the case in Charlottesville, it won't change the political narrative. Hands up! Don't shoot!

 

[CBradSmith]

If that's how you define terrorism then the cop shootings in Dallas would also not be terrorism. Which is fine, as long as you are being consistent.
It was targeting non random individuals, in a charged environment, can be attributed to rage. I don't know the level of planning that went into either event, but I don't know that that matters much.

I agree with this.
Terrorism, eh, no.
"Hate crime?" If there is such a thing, then yes.

 

[CowboyPhil]

MS-13 (and other gangs of non citizens) should be recognized as terrorist organizations and those non-citizens apprehended here should be transferred to Guantanamo Bay as enemy combatants.

 

[Medic007]

MS-13 (and other gangs of non citizens) should be recognized as terrorist organizations and those non-citizens apprehended here should be transferred to Guantanamo Bay as enemy combatants.

I can get behind this.

 

[aix_xpert]

All I'm interested in is the consistency. I don't know (or care) if its considered terrorism. Just seems like we call it terrorism when its politically convenient (or beneficial) such as in this case and we avoid calling it terrorism if it would be politically inconvenient such as the Ft. Hood or DPD shootings. Was just curious what everyone's take on what makes any particular act, terrorism.

 

[CBradSmith]

All I'm interested in is the consistency. I don't know (or care) if its considered terrorism. Just seems like we call it terrorism when its politically convenient (or beneficial) such as in this case and we avoid calling it terrorism if it would be politically inconvenient such as the Ft. Hood or DPD shootings. Was just curious what everyone's take on what makes any particular act, terrorism.

While we're at it can we drill down to what the meaning of 'is' is?

 

[JimmyBob]

drill down

I think that's on a blue dress somewhere.

 

[imprimis]

I think that's on a blue dress somewhere.

Clinton Library and Whore House

 

[JimmyBob]

I think that's on a blue dress somewhere.

Forgot the damned music:

 

[Ponca Dan]

Forgot the damned music:

View embedded media

From the early, early morning to the early, early night, see Miss Molly rockin' at the House of Delight.

I love that tune!

 

[Medic007]

Forgot the damned music:

View embedded media

Brothers JimmyBob and Daryl Squared never fail to deliver.

 

[JimmyBob]

From the early, early morning to the early, early night, see Miss Molly rockin' at the House of Delight.

I love that tune!

Stumbled upon a real oldies Tulsa station a few weeks back; hearing songs I'd forgotten. This is one!

 

[JimmyBob]

Daryl Squared

Halls, not Hannahs.