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Killing distant people in a foreign country is most people's definition of a terrorist attack. A declared war is one thing but this type of terror weapon is lik
by coldcode 13y ago
Killing distant people in a foreign country is most people's definition of a terrorist attack. A declared war is one thing but this type of terror weapon is likely to backfire some day, if it hasn't already.
- papandrinko 13y agoI think most people's definition would be more like the mass murder of non-combatants for religious or political reasons
- realo 13y agohum. From what I have read so far about US drone attacks, they seem fit your description quite nicely. Thanks for the good definition. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/22/amnesty-us-officials-war-crimes-drones http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/22/amnesty-us-offi...
- DangerousPie 13y agoWhat? No it's not. Terrorism is about using violent, random attacks that cause fear to effect some sort of change. It has nothing to do with distance.
- albertyw 13y agoOne man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter
- fit2rule 13y agoWhat part of a drone attack isn't violent, random, causing fear in those who observe them? They don't exactly drop rainbow-candy, books and water supplies on those foreigners, you know .. Every single drone attack is absolutely terrifying.
- netcan 13y ago"Most people's definition of a terrorist attack" is any violence they don't believe in. It's a pejorative, not a description. Lets not do that fake objectivity thing here. The somewhat objective definition of terror attacks is no longer in use.
- anologwintermut 13y agoA question: are the double taps which allegedly end up killing rescuers meant to cause terror? I've seen these referenced by some sources claiming this, but I have never seen an alternative explanation, which makes me slightly skeptical. It's one thing to kill people you are at war with(even if it's an odd war), it's another to intentionally terrorize civilian populations to not help your targets. The later, if it's actually what's going on, would be terrorism by most people's definition and very distressing.
- netcan 13y agoPossibly. That's not directly related to my point though. I'm not saying that these drones strikes should (or shouldn't) happen. I'm just talking about the word. I don't think it's helpful these days to people who want to have a rational discussion. There is no "most people's definition" that we rationally But fear has always been used in war. Civilians have always been affected by war. Our armies aren't champions that go out and duel to decide our quarrels.
- bane 13y agoCongratulations, you've just described all warfare outside of civil conflicts as terrorist attacks. All non-civil wars involved killing distant people in a foreign country.
- jafaku 13y agoYou skipped the part where he said "declared war". We have international laws and convention nowadays. But certain country is ignoring them just because it can.
- anologwintermut 13y agoWhat would fighting in a declared war against a non-nation state change with drones? Sure, it might change the situation with gitmo and black sites, but collateral damage when striking "military targets" isn't illegal.
- zurn 13y agoWars between neighbouring countries are a common case & main reason for existance of many armies. I suppose you could make the case that a few hundred km is "distant", but at least one party is at home.
- fit2rule 13y agoDrones are absolutely terrorist weapons. There is no question about it - they are DESIGNED to inflict as much terror as possible in the population.