Comments on: "Terrorism" defined http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/04/01/terrorism-defined/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:51:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Grant http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/04/01/terrorism-defined/#comment-258995 Grant Mon, 04 Apr 2005 08:03:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/04/01/terrorism-defined/#comment-258995 "preferring to somehow blame them for standing close by, or simply living near, a "terrorist"."<br/><br/>- I don't "Blame" them, however, I do blame the terrorist for hiding out in a civillina population which is against international law (you never seem to mention this).<br/><br/>"Is dropping bombs on refugee camps, as Israel does do, and causing civilian casualties, terrorism? Absolutely. International law says so, as does the UN."<br/><br/>You are blatantly wrong. International law follows the same principal as common law in this regard. If a robber takes 20 hostages in a bank and threatens to kill them and a police sharpshooter accidently kills 2 of the hostages in the process of "taking out" the robber is the police officer a terrorist?<br/><br/>I conceed, however, that if the civillian risk is too high that military forces should err on the side of caution.<br/><br/><br/> "about IDF policy in the territories, the deliberate targeting of civilians" - as opposed the the Hamas / Islamic Jihad / Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade policy of killing civillians which apparently is not "terrorism".<br/><br/>You have a barrow to push, Antony, but you are not always right (quite the contrary) and you are not "holier". “preferring to somehow blame them for standing close by, or simply living near, a “terrorist”.”

- I don’t “Blame” them, however, I do blame the terrorist for hiding out in a civillina population which is against international law (you never seem to mention this).

“Is dropping bombs on refugee camps, as Israel does do, and causing civilian casualties, terrorism? Absolutely. International law says so, as does the UN.”

You are blatantly wrong. International law follows the same principal as common law in this regard. If a robber takes 20 hostages in a bank and threatens to kill them and a police sharpshooter accidently kills 2 of the hostages in the process of “taking out” the robber is the police officer a terrorist?

I conceed, however, that if the civillian risk is too high that military forces should err on the side of caution.

“about IDF policy in the territories, the deliberate targeting of civilians” - as opposed the the Hamas / Islamic Jihad / Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade policy of killing civillians which apparently is not “terrorism”.

You have a barrow to push, Antony, but you are not always right (quite the contrary) and you are not “holier”.

]]> By: Anonymous http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/04/01/terrorism-defined/#comment-258952 Anonymous Fri, 01 Apr 2005 10:11:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/04/01/terrorism-defined/#comment-258952 Spot on Antony. War on terrorism.<br/>War on drugs. War on anything you don't agree with. So tedious and stupid. I can see a war on single mother pregnancy coming on. Spot on Antony. War on terrorism.
War on drugs. War on anything you don’t agree with. So tedious and stupid. I can see a war on single mother pregnancy coming on.

]]> By: Antony Loewenstein http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/04/01/terrorism-defined/#comment-258951 Antony Loewenstein Fri, 01 Apr 2005 07:16:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/04/01/terrorism-defined/#comment-258951 This is one argument that many and most blind supporters of Israel continue to push. As ever, most of these individuals have never actually seen nor spoken to the victims of Israeli violence, preferring to somehow blame them for standing close by, or simply living near, a "terrorist".<br/>Very few people thankfully accept anymore that Israeli military action is either proportionate or often justified. Is dropping bombs on refugee camps, as Israel does do, and causing civilian casualties, terrorism? Absolutely. International law says so, as does the UN. But then, Israel and its supporters would rather ignore these bodies...<br/>"Inadvertently killed civilians?" Give me a break. There is now massive amounts of literature, some of which I'll be addressing in my book, about IDF policy in the territories, the deliberate targeting of civilians and collective punishment.<br/>Both sides have committed hideous crimes, but let's never forget who is occupying whom, and why.<br/><br/>Finally, striking a purely military target. Is this terrorism? Again, probably not. It's not pretty, to be sure, but let's face it. Israel is illegally on Palestinian land and it is the legitimate right, again in the UN charter, to resist. For any occupied people, mind you. Targeting civilians is another matter entirely. This is one argument that many and most blind supporters of Israel continue to push. As ever, most of these individuals have never actually seen nor spoken to the victims of Israeli violence, preferring to somehow blame them for standing close by, or simply living near, a “terrorist”.
Very few people thankfully accept anymore that Israeli military action is either proportionate or often justified. Is dropping bombs on refugee camps, as Israel does do, and causing civilian casualties, terrorism? Absolutely. International law says so, as does the UN. But then, Israel and its supporters would rather ignore these bodies…
“Inadvertently killed civilians?” Give me a break. There is now massive amounts of literature, some of which I’ll be addressing in my book, about IDF policy in the territories, the deliberate targeting of civilians and collective punishment.
Both sides have committed hideous crimes, but let’s never forget who is occupying whom, and why.

Finally, striking a purely military target. Is this terrorism? Again, probably not. It’s not pretty, to be sure, but let’s face it. Israel is illegally on Palestinian land and it is the legitimate right, again in the UN charter, to resist. For any occupied people, mind you. Targeting civilians is another matter entirely.

]]> By: Anonymous http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/04/01/terrorism-defined/#comment-258949 Anonymous Fri, 01 Apr 2005 04:29:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/04/01/terrorism-defined/#comment-258949 Hi Anthony,<br/>Sure suicide bombing is terrorism if the targets are innocent civilians, but, is it terrorism if the bomber strikes a purely military target of an occupying army? <br/>Is that not a legit target? Hi Anthony,
Sure suicide bombing is terrorism if the targets are innocent civilians, but, is it terrorism if the bomber strikes a purely military target of an occupying army?
Is that not a legit target?

]]> By: Grant http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/04/01/terrorism-defined/#comment-258947 Grant Fri, 01 Apr 2005 03:32:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/04/01/terrorism-defined/#comment-258947 Hi Anthony,<br/><br/>Can you advise examples of where "Israeli fighterjets have dropped bombs on Gaza refugee camps" willy-nilly - ie not specifically targetting a military target (ie terrorist leader or production facility)?<br/><br/>A suicide bomber who targets civillians is not the equivalent of the defence force that aims to protect its civillians by targetting the terrorist organisation.<br/><br/>Yes, Israeli bombings targetting these terrorists have inadvertently killed civillians that were bystanders but this was not their specific target. Intent is relevant.<br/><br/><br/>Come on Antony, you know better. Hi Anthony,

Can you advise examples of where “Israeli fighterjets have dropped bombs on Gaza refugee camps” willy-nilly - ie not specifically targetting a military target (ie terrorist leader or production facility)?

A suicide bomber who targets civillians is not the equivalent of the defence force that aims to protect its civillians by targetting the terrorist organisation.

Yes, Israeli bombings targetting these terrorists have inadvertently killed civillians that were bystanders but this was not their specific target. Intent is relevant.

Come on Antony, you know better.

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