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From: mahoney@bach.DEC
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Re: Terrorism
Message-ID: <35@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 16-Dec-85 16:20:52 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.35
Posted: Mon Dec 16 16:20:52 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Dec-85 21:55:44 EST
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---------------------Reply to mail dated 12-DEC-1985 10:14---------------------

>Posted by: decwrl!ucbvax!ernie!tedrick
>Organization: University of California, Berkeley
>
>>     Terrorism = attacking of civilian population not directly
>>               involved in a war effort.
>
>The problem I see with this definition is that the current
>theory of war as I understand it includes attacks on the civilian
>population as an integral part. The idea is that by attacking
>the civilian population you induce demoralization and contribute
>to the breakdown of the society as a whole.
>
  [what is here gives examples of the above during WWII and the
   Soviet War in Afghanistan]
>The definition is probably good if you don't claim that
>terrorism is distinct from war.


 I do feel that you can have terrorist activities in war such as
the fire bombing of Dresden and the bombings of London Berlin and Tokyo.
These were all terrorist acts as far as I am concerned.  Bombing a
factory (accidents happen if you hit something else in war by
accident then it is not terrorism)  that produces war material is not
a terrorist attack. Bombing the whole city to demoralize the population is.
As I stated I do not and will never believe in the Total War theory. What the
Soviet Union is an abomination as far as I am concerned and deserves the scorn
of the whole world.  I am also not thrilled with American activities in
Nicaragua. The biggest problem in the world is that the Superpowers (throughout
the ages) have felt that their neighbors are there playthings.  This has led
to more problems then anything else.  Remember that war will always beget war.


Brian Mahoney
"A liberal is a terrible thing to waste
 mount one on your wall as a trophy"