Replies

“We are not fighting a group. We are not fighting one group, Al Qaeda (AQ). But hundreds of groups and their financial backers.”

Never said we just fighting AQ. Are you trying to be obtuse? We are fighting militant islam in all its flavors. We are also fighting countries that use militant islam to further their own ends and do damage to the west. I used the term fellow travelers versus your “financial backers” because it was more encompusing.

“Terrorist groups are not Nation States they are individuals banded together. They fight for no flag or country. They do fight for ideology (as you said)”.

You wont find me disagreeing with the idea that the nation/state is no longer the only legal foreign policy construct. It used to be that it was an act of war if our country invaded a country under any reason. I think nations should not be morally allowed to declare war if it is shown that they harbor non formal military organization used to attack other nations.

“When we say terrorism it is a term which embodies all these individuals and entities on one word. When we say terrorism it is a term that embodies their actions in the world at large”.

Huh?

“I never said terrorism was the only method they use, you did. FEAR in any and all forms is what they use. Terrorism is a tool yes, but it is a known commodity that can be cited and called by name”.

Actually, I think I said we had a problem with semantics. We still have. I did define terrorism as just a methhod and that you cant make war on a method. As for fear, well I feared the USSR nuking us back in the 80s. Did that make it terrorism. No, fear doesnt equal terrorism. As a soldier you should no that. Fear pervades all war. Fear even pervades cold wars. Dat dont make it terrorism. No, the best and the brightest have had a hard time defining the term terrorism. I’d like to call it any violent attacks on civilians for political/religious reasons. But then Hasan doen’t fit in with that definition except for one victim. I’m fine with that becauce it fits in with my overall view. Hasan is part of the overall war on militant islam and should justly be dealt with(death penalty). There are muslims in this country that commit acts of war because they see the overall war better than I think you do. They aren’t terrorist though. They are treasonist soldiers/civilians out of uniform. In the Hasan case, he should be shot as an espionage agent for the other side.