Comments on: New Terrorist Tool – The Bulldozer

By: mlhradio

mlhradio — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:10:39 +0000

What defines an act as "terrorism" versus just plain ol' violence?

Not a rhetorical question, I'm asking seriously.

I suppose, on first reflection, it boils down to a matter of intent more than any other factor. Does anyone know what this idiot's intent was in his attack -- was it a pointed attack against Israel, or was he just plain crazy (like that guy who hijacked a military tank down in San Diego several years ago).

I do find it interesting that some extremists with an agenda take the knee-jerk reaction that this is automatically "terrorism", rather than a crazy act of a crazy person. I think that displays more about the paranoid mindset of the person describing the act as terrorism more than the act itself. Sad, really.

By: runasim

runasim — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:57:21 +0000

When bulldozers were used to demolish Palestinian homes, was that also terrorism?
In my opinion, the answer is a definite NO.

However, we will never get a handle on terrorism or regional conflicts until we understand that the view, and the definition, is different from the other side of the street.
We are not going to defeat terrorism with definitions.

By: DLS

DLS — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:42:16 +0000

"What's a decent person to think when Palestinian groups fall over one another trying to claim the bulldozer attack? And when one of the groups is the Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade? "

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/998354.html

By: GreenDreams

GreenDreams — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:33:53 +0000

Good point. Why is all violent crime now “terrorist related”? Was THIS incident also caused by a “terrorist?”

By: Ike_Skelton

Ike_Skelton — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:34:25 +0000

I fail to see evidence that this was a “terrorist” attack, rather than simply an enraged man going on a killing spree. Yes, he probably induced terror in people in the area, but was that his intent, or was it a byproduct of his actions?