The age-old question -- the chicken or the egg ?

[kentuck]

Terrorism was here before 9/11. Does anyone know when it was born? Does terrorism happen because a certain group of people have been abused and neglected and worse?

The UN representative for Israel made a speech yesterday where he attempted to justify the invasion of Lebanon with the capture of the "foiled plot" in the UK. As if to say, we invaded Lebanon because these terrorists are out there and they aim to destroy all of us?

Also, did 9/11 really happen in a vacuum? And then our invasion of Iraq was a reaction to those attacks on that fateful day? But, many Arabs were angry with the US before 9/11 because we had American troops stationed in Saudi Arabia, near their holy cities. But we had troops stationed in Saudi Arabia to protect the oil puppets from an invasion by Saddam Hussein...etc..etc.

So the question remains. Is terrorism created from a vacuum or are there legitimate complaints from these people that cause them to attack American interests around the world? Which comes first? That is a question we should be addressing more. It seems to me the presence of so many American troops in areas around the world creates a friction whereby terrorism is born. However, the troops are around the world primarily to protect American corporate interests. The chicken or the egg?

[meegbear]

1. Does anyone know when it was born?

Scholars believe what we would call terrorism started during the French Revolution. The state would use intimidation, threats, violence and guillotine all for political and soical change and gains.

[tulsakatz]

2. read American Jihad by Steve Emerson

It's an excellent book and does go into some history related to terrorism. It's been awhile since I've read it and he says terrorism has existed (in one form or another) for a long time. But it really started to become popular when an islamic revolution got rid of the Shah of Iran and replaced him with Ayatollah Khomeni in the early 80s.

[iamjoy]

3. Vicious Cycle

and less important than which came first is how to stop it.

[sam sarrha]

4. there were Jihad suicide attacks, around the turn of the century in India

by Muslim extremists against the English Colonials.. i dont remember the exact date.. it got really out of hand till the English started burying the Martyrs in unknown locations sewn up in a freshly skinned pig hide. that put an end to pretty quickly.

during the Iran hostage situation i had a roommate who had been a CIA Operative, he said that we should carpet bomb Tehran with live pigs.... till they give em up:wow: other than that he was a pretty interesting guy

[elocs]

5. Terrorism is a tactic, an idea.

I am certain it has been used for thousands of years in one form or another. If they had the terminology, I am sure the British in 1776 would have referred to Washington and the other Revolutionary War fighters as "terrorists" with so many of them not wearing uniforms. I am also sure the Nazis considered the resistance to be terrorists. (Certainly in the movie V for Vendetta, V was a terrorist in the eyes of the government.) Terrorism is an idea and tactic that will never die. No matter what is done now, in 200 years somebody or some group could employ terrorism as their chosen tactic against a superior force or government, for good or for evil.

[Annces]

6. are you for real?

terrorism is just a tactic used in guerrilla warfare.

[Little Star]

7. George B*sh created terrorism.

Another DUer just said that in another post. Al invented the internets and george created terror as we know it today.

[originalpckelly]

8. And all those attacks on our nation...

didn't happen during the last administration. Yeah terror just sprang up when the fucker took office.

[Toots]

9. What is the difference between a terrorist and a murderer?

Murder has been around for a little while anyway...