Terrorism

From RationalWiki

Terrorism, in popular meaning, is the military strategy of threatening civilian populations and property, often in guerilla warfare, in order to force some change from their government.

The difference betwen a "terrorist" and a "freedom fighter" is which side you are on.

A strict definition is almost impossible, as everyone uses the term slightly differently. However, a common set of criteria used in international relations is:

1. Violence^[1]
2. Non-state or covert actions^[2]
3. Targets civilians.^[3]
4. Clandestine^[4]
5. Political agenda.^[5]

[edit] Notable terrorist groups

• Al Qaeda
• Hamas
• The Baader-Meinhof Gang
• Timothy McVeigh & other angry white American males.
• The American revolutionaries
• The Cuban revolutionaries
• The Viet Cong ("victor charlie")
• The Irish Republican Army
• The British Army
• The George W. Bush administration

[edit] Alternate meanings

“

Anyone who uses threats, or the illusion of threats, or actual damage, to coerce some reaction or action from others, is a terrorist. Wouldn't that include made-up threats to websites? Or actual ones, to cause confusion and disruption? I won't argue something that is stupid as someone defending such anti-intellectual actions. --TK /MyTalk 22:58, 24 May 2007 (CDT)[6]

”

[edit] See also

• School of the Americas

1. ↑ no matter what China says, the President of Taiwan is not a terrorist for saying that Taiwan is an independent country.
2. ↑ If a military does it, it's a war crime, not terrorism. However, this is usually considered the most debatable of the criteria.
3. ↑ If it targets a military, it's guerrilla warfare, not terrorism. Yes, that includes the attack on the USS Cole.
4. ↑ If it's announced, it's not terrorism. Probably a useless criterion, but it's there.
5. ↑ If someone shoots up a McDonald's to send a message to the US, it's terrorism. If they do so because their dog told them to, they're a mass murderer.
6. ↑ TK, again, and as always...