Hier on 30/5/2006 at 16:17
You can get different definitions depending on who you ask. I doubt Bin Laden calls himself a terrorist, but most sane people would say he is one. I think most people recognize "terrorism" as acts of violence carried out by organized clandestine groups to influence government or society, or to spread fear and hatred to further their political or religious goals.
The fact that the terrorist group is small or hidden and in some way fighting against a much larger, generally peaceful society is important. As much as many people hate what the US government is doing, I doubt many reasonable people would call them "terrorists". Referring to the government of the world's most powerful nation as a terrorist organization basically trivializes the word.
SD on 30/5/2006 at 16:25
Quote Posted by Hier
As much as many people hate what the US government is doing, I doubt many reasonable people would call them "terrorists". Referring to the government of the world's most powerful nation as a terrorist organization basically trivializes the word.
I don't think they are terrorists
per se, but they do have a rather unsavoury history of sponsoring terrorism. Whether or not sponsoring terrorism allows you to be labelled as a terrorist is a whole other debate.
OrbWeaver on 30/5/2006 at 16:28
Quote Posted by Hier
Referring to the government of the world's most powerful nation as a terrorist organization basically trivializes the word.
The word is largely useless already due to the amount of political and emotional baggage attached to it.
This is why news organisations like the BBC tend to avoid using it, preferring more specific terms such as "suicide bomber", "insurgent", "militant" etc.
NeoPendragon on 30/5/2006 at 16:55
Those assholes that camp the bomb site with an AWP. Usually you can lob a flash around the corner and run up and knife him. LOL GG NEWB!!!
Fragony on 30/5/2006 at 16:56
Quote Posted by BR796164
Dude.
Most of the time they are, that's a bit easy.
Fragony on 30/5/2006 at 16:57
Quote Posted by OrbWeaver
And the difference between a "civilian army" and a "non-governmental army" is ?
'privatised'. Used to be common in the old days, the swiss were famous for it.
Matthew on 30/5/2006 at 17:04
And too bloody good at it.
OrbWeaver on 30/5/2006 at 17:53
Quote Posted by Fragony
'privatised'. Used to be common in the old days, the swiss were famous for it.
That's a
mercenary.
A (
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=militia) militia can refer to any civilian-composed military force, paid or otherwise.
Ulukai on 30/5/2006 at 18:55
Inline Image:
http://img285.imageshack.us/img285/839/diehard4ip.jpgHans Gruber is actually an "exceptional thief" masquerading as a terrorist to fool the Mexicans in the FBI. None of them being Arabs was a dead giveaway, the FBI man must have been stupid.
Die Hard teaches us that it's important to differentiate between domestic hostage situations, and terrorism. Armed thieves need to be shot on sight but terrorists, suspected terrorists, people who look like they might be terrorists and people who once saw more than three terrorists on consecutive tuesdays need to be locked up at taxpayer's expense in Cuba and then go on trial. This proves who is the winner.
Another valuable lesson we learn from Die Hard is that sometimes terrorists may like nice suits even if they are not really terrorists but thieves, and a man in a wife beater will actually save you. Just because two men have the same suit does not mean that they share the same outlook on life. If the man in the vest was from Afghanistan and saved everyone a temporal vortex would have occured in the USA, ripping apart space time. After the man dies they go home.
Thief13x on 30/5/2006 at 20:20
ze american heathen is ze real terrorist!....I had nozing to do with the terrorist attack of septemba elevensth!:thumb:
