Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!qantel!lll-lcc!lll-crg!caip!topaz!harvard!bu-cs!dml From: dml@bu-cs.UUCP (David Matthew Lyle) Newsgroups: net.followup Subject: Re: What is the defintion of Terrorism? Message-ID: <507@bu-cs.UUCP> Date: Tue, 29-Apr-86 14:32:39 EDT Article-I.D.: bu-cs.507 Posted: Tue Apr 29 14:32:39 1986 Date-Received: Fri, 2-May-86 22:33:44 EDT References: <157@unido.UUCP> <1200001@ztivax.UUCP> <332@hope.UUCP> <529@looking.UUCP> Reply-To: dml@bucsd.UUCP (David Matthew Lyle) Followup-To: net.followup Distribution: net Organization: Boston University -- Boston Massachusetts, USA Lines: 82 Keywords: definition Webster In article <529@looking.UUCP> brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton) writes: | Recently there have been lots of uses of the word 'terrorism.' | | What exactly do we mean when we say that word? It's too new for a | dictionary to be definative, but it is certain that lots of people | are using it to mean, "a violent act I didn't like or by somebody | I don't like," and this is pointless. It's just name calling. | | Here are some possible definitions for terrorism, all of which I | have seen used at one time or another. | | 1) Any attack directed explicitly against civilians or other innocents | for the purpose of evoking fear amongst a general group of such | non-combatants | | 2) Any attack that deliberately uses civilian victims to obtain military | objectives | | 3)a) Any attack that harms innocent bytstanders through negligence. | | b) Any attack carried out with total disregard for civilian casualties | | 4) Any military or para-military threat or attack that violates the | rules of "civilized" war. | | 5) Any attack by a private military force, or by a national military | force without a declaration of war. | | 6) Any attack which harms civilians at all. | | --------- | | Now to my mind, #1 and #2 are the primary definitions that were | originally meant for the word. The strike on Libya is allegedly guilty of | #3a, and certainly guilty of #5 and #6. | | The essential elements of terrorism are: | a) Deliberate attacks with intent to harm civilians | b) To gain advantages by invoking terror in civilians. | with, to a lesser extent: | c) Unconventional forms of attack, such as geurilla warfare | or suicide squads. | | So, to those who have called the attack on Libya 'Terrorist', what | defintion of the word do you use to make your claim? To make such | a claim, I believe it is necessary to claim that Mr. Reagan gave orders | to *deliberately* target civilians. | | I don't think it can be considered terrorism to attack military targets | because it is their job to be subject to attack. You can't strike terror | into their hearts in the same way that this is done to civilians. | | -- | Brad Templeton, Looking Glass Software Ltd. - Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473 Well, this is the definition that dear old Webster has... ter.ror.ism \'ter-*r-.iz-*m\ n : the systematic use of terror esp. as a means of coercion -- ter.ror.ist \-*r-*st\ adj or n -- ter.ror.is.tic \.ter-*r-'is-tik\ adj Cross references: 1 fear _ ter.ror \'ter-*r\ n [ME, fr. MF terreur, fr. L terror, fr. terrere to frighten; akin to Gk trein to be afraid, flee, tremein to tremble -- more at TREMBLE] 1 a : a state of intense fear b : TERRIBLENESS 2 a : one that inspires fear : SCOURGE b : a frightening aspect c : a cause of anxiety : WORRY d : an appalling person or thing; esp : BRAT 3 : REIGN OF TERROR -- SYN see FEAR I do not think that the US air raid on Libya can be considered a terrorist act. It was a one time action, not a ``systematic'' action. Also, it's purpose was not to cause terror, the intention was to disable (at least temporarily) Libyan military/terrorist facilities as well as to make a point that the US is not kidding. Hopefully, although not likely, Khaddafi took note. -- David Matthew Lyle dml@bu-cs.CSNET (dml@bucsa.bu.edu) Boston University dml@buenga.BITNET Distributed Systems Group ...harvard!bu-cs!dml