Terrorism Success Stories, does it work?

Looking back at history at the use of terrorism , often it does actually work to a point.

Two examples :

IRA and Britian....Britian eventually started negitiations with the terrorists.

The early life of Isreal and the bombing of the King David hotel by ISREALI terrorists, leading to the removal of the British Empire. (interesting to note that the first terrorists in Mid East were Jews fighting against foreign occupation!!)

Often terrorism ends in some form of agreement because you cant fight a small moving target , who can strike at any time anywhere.

Current situation is whenever an Islamic terrorist is killed he becomes a martyer and leads to hundreds of others to follow his lead.

I dont think the west can win a prolonged war like this.

Given recent events I would have to say yes terrorism can have sucesses. Madrid bombings? and now news that US forces through negotiations with insurgents in Fallujah Iraq are going to pull out of the city?

Sometimes they win, but lets keep their victories small and keep focus on the fight with islamic terrorism. Lets hope this does not make the Islamic world believe that as long as we are in Iraq they can through acts of future terrorism dive us out of this war all together.

Gazz

I agree and disagree. Here's my thought.

I agree that terrorism has worked of late, in that, individual attacks have been successful on the U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the train bombings, the USS Cole, and of course WTC - 9/11 just to name a few. these were planned attacks that were carried out successfully and they were.

I disagree that terrorism has worked, the terrorist have not achieved thier over all goals, to bring down the U.S. to have all out war or Jihad, I think they call it ?

We as a nation have been stirred, but not shaken.

my 2 for the day

TruthStrangerThanFiction -

I dont think the west can win a prolonged war like this.

You cannot declare war on an abstract noun. - Masked Avatar

Some actually think terrorism began (at least in the USA) on Sept. 11, which is ridiculous. Go back to the time of the ancient assassins and move forward. Terrorism has gone on everywhere since.

I love the words to that Black Eyed Peas song - pointing out that we have terrorists right here, aside from "Al Qaeda." The CIA, the Crips, the Bloods, the KKK. SO TRUE!

The "war on terror" is BS. After the fall of the Soviet Union the US was in need of an external enemy to justify the obscene budgets of the intelligence and military apparatus. It is a perpetual "war," and there will never be a clean cut end. How convenient for the power elites.

Someone needs to step up and point this out in the mainstream. Well, I take that back: Gore Vidal pretty much has.

[Edited on 19-09-2003 by EastCoastKid]

Yep your hitting the points good there EastCoastKid.

I think the reason why we have terrorism in the first place is because it is a proven tactic. So yes, it works.

V

How do you think the States was founded?

Don't you think the founding fathers and the signers of the declaration were considered terrorists?

I think the British liked to think of their out of control satellite people as terrorists. Technically, it could be a correct description; however, I believe they were freedom fighters, throwing off the chains of what they considered tyrannical rule. It's really in the eyes of the beholder.

I've been following the whole Sri Lanka v. Tamil Tiger situation for over a decade now. Sri Lanka refers to the Tigers as terrorists. I refer to them as freedom fighters. The US government thinks of the Tigers as terrorists, too. Probably b/c the Sri Lankan gov. kisses up to the Bush admin.

quote:
How do you think the States was founded?

Don't you think the founding fathers and the signers of the declaration were considered terrorists?

Yes they can be call terrorist, Why? they came to this land and took possesion of it when this land at the time was in possesion of the native american, Yes they acted like terrorist I think. They were invadors.

Originally posted by marg6043
quote:
How do you think the States was founded?

Don't you think the founding fathers and the signers of the declaration were considered terrorists?

Yes they can be call terrorist, Why? they came to this land and took possesion of it when this land at the time was in possesion of the native american, Yes they acted like terrorist I think. They were invadors.

I disagree. In the beginning there was actual trade with the Indians for land (Staten Island for a few beads). Why would terrorists trade for land rather than take it?

Also, to call the founding fathers terrorists is a gross missuse of the word. Did they instill terror in the English, no. The English were always of the opinion that they could defeat us until the French threw in with us.

Terrorist look to non-military targets as well as military targets. Can anyone here point out what non-military targets our founding fathers went after? I didn't think so.

Originally posted by COOL HAND
Terrorist look to non-military targets as well as military targets. Can anyone here point out what non-military targets our founding fathers went after? I didn't think so.

It was a different situation. You can't even compare the two. They just wanted independence, away from England. These people want independence from us, in their own countries. There is no new continent to run to for them.

Originally posted by Satyr
It was a different situation. You can't even compare the two. They just wanted independence, away from England. These people want independence from us, in their own countries. There is no new continent to run to for them.

I was just trying to point out that it was ridiculous to say that the founding fathers were terrorists. I don't think they were, and am quite shocked to see people say they were.

The founding fathers weren't trying to run to a new continent either. If you will recall most of them were born here.

Ah, my American history is rusty. I see what you're saying, though. There's a difference between rebels and terrorists.

Originally posted by Satyr
Ah, my American history is rusty. I see what you're saying, though. There's a difference between rebels and terrorists.

Exactly the point that I was trying to make.

Glad to see that someone finally agrees with me on that.

I can see now how this country education has gone wrong when I see people taking about history and forgeting the ugly facts of how this country was taking away from their true owners, pity, Cool hand I give you some beads for you car may be some fire water to go with it too. How about that? Ok how about fire water first and then you sell me your home and car for beads.

[Edited on 30-4-2004 by marg6043]

I've been a fan of the constitution of the USA since I was old enough to look around, not that America is living upto what was written by any stretch of the Imagination.

Take a look at the Decleration of Independance there are many greviences there that could have easily been written by an Iraqi.

For Example:

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

- Writing laws that they aren't allowed to change once the Americans leave

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

- Has anyone heard of an American deing disiplined before the new revelations today??

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

- 12 Years of sanctions

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

- Iraw never has income taxes before (all that oil)

For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

- As shown by todays pictures and 10's of thousands Iraqi's being held with charge as yet

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

- Guantonimo bay anyone ???

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

- Haliburton and the boys

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

- More mercs in Iraq than UK soldiers

I think you yank have a hell of a lot more in common with the Iraqi's than you thing including the name of the man in both cases, George

Originally posted by marg6043
I can see now how this country education has gone wrong when I see people taking about history and forgeting the ugly facts of how this country was taking away from their true owners, pity, Cool hand I give you some beads for you car may be some fire water to go with it too. How about that?

Ok how about fire water first and then you sell me your home and car for beads.

Yep. This country has a very short memory when it comes to learning from the past. That's one of my biggest frustrations with America.