1. Terrorism is a political tactic of desperate people, not an “evil” ideology.
The United States Department of Defense defines terrorism as “the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.” Within this definition, there are three key elements—violence, fear, and intimidation—and each element produces terror in its victims. The FBI uses this: "Terrorism is the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives." The U.S. Department of State defines "terrorism" to be "premeditated politically-motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.
Terrorism
is a tactic, although not necessarily of a desperate people. When someone's grievances are not just, then they have no right to resort to violent measures against the civilian populace. The terrorist/freedom fighter analogy is not apt. The Afghans fighting back against Communist oppression had just grievances, i.e. being slaughtered by Soviet troops at the request of a puppet government installed by the Soviets. When the French Resistance attacked the Vichy government installed by Germany against the will of the French people in WWII, that was just. When Al Qaeda attacked the United States because we had troops that were invited by the host government in Saudi Arabia, that was not just. 60+% of the Iraqi people voting in the election proves that our cause is just.
2. The root cause of present day terrorism is US government foreign policies that sustain the violent occupation of Muslim land and the cruel oppression of millions of marginalized Muslims.
Someone needs to get clearance to read the rules of engagement in Iraq. You can't just blow away anyone you want. Several soldiers have been charged with murder because they didn't understand that. A couple hundred thousand soldiers are not being charged with murder because they did understand. If the Iraqis don't attack us, we won't attack them. Therefore, the insurgents are sustaining the violent occupation of Muslim land, especially when they are importing people that don't want to rebuild the country, but just attack Coalition Forces.
3. Stopping terrorism is futile until these unjust US government policies are stopped.
I'll stand by Marko's comments on this, and I will add that spreading governments by the people, of the people, and for the people is not unjust.
4. Israel is the crux of the problem. US billions and US weapons permit Israel to continue to expand its occupation of Palestinian land and to continue its violent oppression of politically powerless Palestinians.
This would be the same Israel that is having problems from hard-liners within its government because it is pulling out of Palestinian land? Palestine seems to have more political power than the U.S. and Israel combined, judging by the way the votes in the U.N. go. Israel seems to be doing a hell of a job lately going after the leaders who call for violence against the Israeli civilian populace, not the Palestinians themselves.
5. The illegal US invasion of Iraq greatly exacerbates the problem by blatantly validating terrorists’ claims of oppression and violent occupation of Muslim land. This bloody US occupation virtually guarantees Americans and their allies will be targets of violence.
If the terrorists would give us a chance to try and improve their lives instead of attacking us, we might get where we want to be faster and move out of their lands now, wouldn't we?
Terrorism is the product of injustice and can only be stopped by stopping the injustice.
No, terrorism is the product of wanting things a certain way and not getting that way. Unjust desires do not warrant violent attacks against innocent people.
