Understanding terrorism

[tw]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Why does Britain produce terrorists?

From The NY Times of 31 July 2005
British Bombers' Rage Formed in a Caldron of Discontent

The form is called Salafism, taking its name from the term for the Prophet Muhammad's companions, although its adherents often reject any label. It originated in 19th-century Saudi Arabia, and has helped inspire groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qaeda.

The Salafi demand for purity and rejection of any Islam except that of the early years can lead to deep intolerance even for fellow Muslims like Shiites.

Salafis see politics as embedded in the DNA of Islam, which was founded to restore social justice to seventh-century Arabia. They take to heart the injunction that the ummah - the global community of Muslims -is "like one body": if one part is suffering, the rest will be in pain as well. They believe, therefore, in an obligation to physical jihad, or struggle, under the right conditions.

For educated young European Muslims who learned nothing of their own history in school, Salafism is a natural fit, Mr. Ballard said. It provides unequivocal answers. And, he said, it is largely "do it yourself."

When your religion becomes more than a relationship between yourself and your god, what happens next? A question repeatedly answered by history - and by the most latest examples in Britian.

This notion has become a recurring motif in the materials circulated by Islamic bookshops like Iqra. CD's produced and distributed by Iqra juxtapose images from the Crusades with horrifying images of war-mutilated Muslim babies. They superimpose a cross dripping blood over Iraq and Afghanistan. At the end of the video are images of what Mr. McDaid called "mujahedeen," Muslim soldiers fighting back in an array of conflicts, but he insisted those images were not on the copies given away.

Underlying facts that put the above quotes into perspective are found in that long article. Above is but only a soundbyte answer. Insufficient to answer UT's question.

Originally Posted by Brianna

Mari, I was quoting Homer Simpson...have another cuppa.

Sorry, Brianna. You're right, I hadn't had my coffee yet. I hate weekends. I sell roses on Friday and Saturday nights and I don't get home 'till late and it throws off my biological clock. By time I've re-righted it, its Friday again. I think Saturday is my crabbiest day of the week, and I can get pretty crabby as it is!

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

No one chooses the tyrant in preference to going free, you bloody, misrationalizing, hemipygian idiot.

Well, for millions of people, for thousands of years that has been the choice. Yes choice, because they think a Dictator, King, Omnipotent Potentate will keep order and protect them from enemies foreign and domestic.

They can only be browbeaten into it by threats and killings.

Now you know that's not true...see above.

Do not advocate the slave viewpoint in my presence.

Fortunately for you I'm not in your presence. Nor will I be buying you any presents. If you are such a champion of truth, justice and the American Way, how is it you've forgotten about free speech. Guess you're just a tyrant with a different rant.

You do not think like a free adult human being.

I sure do, that's why I won't let you squash my free speech.

Why then do you still have human shape? You should go on all fours, at the end of a leash, slave.

Slave? See, you are just another petty tyrant.....or maybe one of those CA Nancy Boys that buy Arnies magazines. Do you have a steel reinforced collar, mirrors in your glasses and razor blades on your thumb nails?

Actually, I think Urbane Guerilla makes a good case for the thought that the US produces terrorists!

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by marichiko

Actually, I think Urbane Guerilla makes a good case for the thought that the US produces terrorists!

Well, 'terrorist' and 'guerilla' are labels for groups with similar tactics, just different choices of targets.

'Freedom fighter' is reserved for individuals who kill and maim for an especially noble purpose (or one that the speaker agrees with), sometimes regardless of their targets.

I think rebels, guerillas, and 'freedom fighters' can all be lumped together in the 'insurgent' class. I know that 'terrorist' has been mentioned in the news seperately from insurgent, but that may have been because the speaker wished to use the sub-class label.

If insurgent means irregular forces opposed to an established authority, than that would include the founding fathers, and the Texas insurgents who fought at the Alamo.

It is a little ironic that both of these groups would meet the current standards of 'enemy combatants' and be eligible for indefinite detention at Guantanamo. This is of course better than the treatment they would have gotten at the hands of some British and Mexican commanders, who advocated summary execution.

[xoxoxoBruce]

What's happening in Iraq is a class war between the Sunnis and Shiites. We just happen to have enabled it and therefore are in the middle of it. The side we are not on automatically become the insurgents.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Well, for millions of people, for thousands of years that has been the choice. Yes choice, because they think a Dictator, King, Omnipotent Potentate will keep order and protect them from enemies foreign and domestic.

And they are conned thereby -- which isn't choice at all, but being defrauded. Tyrannies do their thing by force and by fraud, and are illegitimate governments to the degree that they do either. This is also known as browbeating by threats and killings. Libertarians understand this, but Bruce doesn't. Just because Bruce doesn't see this doesn't mean I'm in error. Which of us better grasps history will be seen in due course.

Fortunately for you I'm not in your presence. Nor will I be buying you any presents. If you are such a champion of truth, justice and the American Way, how is it you've forgotten about free speech. Guess you're just a tyrant with a different rant.

Here you in effect define free speech as that speech which agrees with you. Sorry, kiddo: my free speech is good for telling you in what manner and degree you are a tyrant-loving fellow-traveling booby, and no champion of human liberty. A reflexive contrarianism won't win you this, either; it paints you into absurd and untenable positions. Contrarianism is the property of trolls, and you know how much respect they get.

I am here to speak against tyranny. You are here to speak against me. That smart or what? Free adult human beings do not stick up for slavery, oppression, genocide, or the myriad villainies that are part and parcel of non-democratic regimes worldwide. Slavemongers and the slave-minded, however, will jump right in. They want the rest of us as messed up as they are.

[lookout123]

you don't get it UG - you are not speaking out against tyranny - you are speaking in favor of a different form of tyranny. you seem to think that you hold the patent on truth, justice, and the RIGHT way, and anyone who doesn't agree with your wisdom is worthy of ridicule and name calling. in your previous post you talk about people following a system or leader only because they've been browbeaten into submission or otherwise fooled - what do you think you are trying to do here? "my way rules, yer all fools" isn't exactly known for winning the hearts and minds to your way of thought.


and, jeez - your posting style is moving closer and closer to TW's with every post you make - this is frightening.

Originally Posted by lookout123

you don't get it UG - you are not speaking out against tyranny - you are speaking in favor of a different form of tyranny. you seem to think that you hold the patent on truth, justice, and the RIGHT way, and anyone who doesn't agree with your wisdom is worthy of ridicule and name calling. in your previous post you talk about people following a system or leader only because they've been browbeaten into submission or otherwise fooled - what do you think you are trying to do here? "my way rules, yer all fools" isn't exactly known for winning the hearts and minds to your way of thought.


and, jeez - your posting style is moving closer and closer to TW's with every post you make - this is frightening.

psssssst, Lookout! Don't scare it with any sudden moves or loud sounds. Ignore it and it will go away...

[Undertoad]

We tried that with you, and it only worked for a while.

[Bullitt]

And you're still tryin it with me, but I'm a persistant little sh*t

[lookout123]

We tried that with you, and it only worked for a while.

[jinx]

Originally Posted by lookout123

You didn't get the memo, or...?

[lookout123]

actually when i first read it i thought tony was slamming me, but then i realized he was talking to marichiko. i'm a little slow but give me a few weeks and i usually catch on.

Originally Posted by Undertoad

We tried that with you, and it only worked for a while.

See? I WARNED you what would happen, but NO--ooh, you just couldn't keep your little fingers off the keyboard, now could you? Now, see what you've done?