Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site mcnc.mcnc.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!mcnc!ravi
From: ravi@mcnc.UUCP (Ravi Subrahmanyan)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish,net.politics
Subject: Re: Terrorism Inc.
Message-ID: <885@mcnc.mcnc.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 7-Oct-85 22:52:53 EDT
Article-I.D.: mcnc.885
Posted: Mon Oct  7 22:52:53 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 9-Oct-85 05:30:43 EDT
References: <488@ittvax.ATC.ITT.UUCP>
Reply-To: ravi@mcnc.UUCP (Ravi Subrahmanyan)
Distribution: net
Organization: Microelectronics Center of NC; RTP, NC
Lines: 32
Xref: linus net.religion.jewish:2101 net.politics:10700
Summary: State terrorisma new phenomenon?

[shlurp....]

>From: decvax!ittatc!ittvax!aouriri Sun Oct  6 17:56:06 1985
>
>Terrorism is once again on the rise all over the world.
>Some recent terrorist events seem to show that some
>nations decided that the best way to combat terrorism is
>to use the terrorist's methods.
>  .............
>These events and several others show that terrorism is not the
>weapon of the weak and politically frustrated any more.
>State terrorism, State sponsored/condoned terrorism, along what 
>one might call classical terrorism, is becoming an instrument of
>international policy. 
>This new phenomen may have perturbing implications worldwide.
>     ^^^
>

I've often wondered if 'state supported terrorism' is really all that
new; it seems more like a new term for something that has been 
going on for a long, long time.  It appears as though violent actions by
a (usually politically unrepresented) group are termed terrorism, while
similar actions by governments, both covert and overt, are called war,
or something less objectionable.  Is there such a big difference between
actions by a government that lead to civilian casualties, and actions
by terrorists (who, being fewer in number and probably low on resources,
certainly lower than a government) choose to pick on smaller numbers of
people (eg. a car bomb versus overthrowing a government)? 

Any comments??
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             decvax!mcnc!ravi