measl@mfn.org[SMTP:measl@mfn.org]
On Mon, 13 Aug 2001, Eric Cordian wrote:
Regarding terrorists. Our government conveniently defines a "terrorist" as any sub-national group that breaks the law in order to influence opinion. Note under such a definition, no recognized government can commit a terrorist act, even if it firebombs nuns and orphans holding kittens. Close, but not quite. It does not require the breaking of law, only actions which are in some way "offensive". Yours, J.A. Terranson
You also forget another critical condition: It's OK if your sub-national group opposes a government which the US dislikes; therefore those trying to overthrow Saadam are 'freedom fighters'., rather than terrorists. The same group can easily flip from one status to another as outside conditions change - many of the Afghanis the USG now labels 'terrorists' were started on their careers as US sponsored 'freedom fighters'. Another example: Kurds striving to establish Kurdistan are regarded by the US as either freedom fighters or terrorists, depending which side of the Turkish/Iraqi border they are on. Of course, by the US Governments definition, George Washington and the other Founding Fathers were terrorists. 'We have always been at war with EastAsia'. Peter Trei
-- On 14 Aug 2001, at 9:40, Trei, Peter wrote:
Another example: Kurds striving to establish Kurdistan are regarded by the US as either freedom fighters or terrorists, depending which side of the Turkish/Iraqi border they are on.
One of the reasons why Bush ditched the small arms treaty is that these days freedom fighters tend to outnumber "terrorists" -- the tide of revolution is mostly flowing in the direction the US finds quite comfortable. The largest beneficiary of the small arms treaty would have been Sudan, a nation on the UN human rights committee that vociferously condemns human rights violations by the US -- also a country with widespread chattel slavery for inferior races. US government policy is not all that bad compared with the mainstream outside the US. Many governments and newspapers take the position that there are no freedom fighters -- that all use of foce against any government, however bad that government may be, is terrorism. --digsig James A. Donald 6YeGpsZR+nOTh/cGwvITnSR3TdzclVpR0+pr3YYQdkG hLaArkke4by+tT5CmnMftYReVXllaaccOEB2k0ZV 4CnNu7kgbHY1gDldKRLxE324WBT7MxOTaSDtWSMA0
participants (2)
-
jamesd＠echeque.com -
Trei, Peter