I'm a terrorist, you're a terrorist. Wouldn't you like to be a terrorist too?

[weaktwos]

Iran's MPs signed a statement that cites our bombing of Japan and the invasions of Iraq and Iran as "terrorist actions".

I kinda see the Iraq deal. But the bombing of Japan, as grim as it was, made sense. Vietnam. Yeah, that wasn't too nice, either.

But Iran totally missed the opportunity by citing our Revolutionary War. That was pure insurgency, baby.

Can't we all agree that everyone's a terrorist, sometimes. That doesn't mean we're committing hate...aw nevermind.

Comments

I have to admit...

[sirndipiti.livejournal.com]

..I sometimes terrorize the cat :)

Re: I have to admit...

[weaktwos.livejournal.com]

Me too, brother. Me too.

[symian.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Well, it was a terrorist action. Mostly civilians were hurt. The fact that the Japanese put most of their important military targets inside of civilian areas is no real excuse. Look at us: Our military bases are "grown" in or around towns, or towns grew up around the military bases. Same with the Pentagon.

"The committee rejected the use of the weapon against a strictly military objective because of the chance of missing a small target not surrounded by a larger urban area. The psychological effects on Japan were of great importance to the committee members. They also agreed that the initial use of the weapon should be sufficiently spectacular for its importance to be internationally recognized." - quote from Wikipedia

How does that differ from the towers? Not much - except a few thousand killed at the towers vs. perhaps 200,000 in the two cities. The "psychological effect" is a important tool of terrorism... as it is in war. After the Hiroshima bombing, President Truman announced, "If they do not not accept our terms, they may expect a rain of ruin from the air the likes of which has never been seen on this earth." And that plans were to keep bombing them until they surrendered or were pretty much destroyed.


Ah well. Everyone is a terrorist, sometimes, as you said. Some say the bombing of Japan was a war crime, or a crime against humanity. Some say not. Some say it ended the war quickly and saved a lot of lives. Some say not, but that more innocent people died in those 2 bombings than would have died in any other type of normal military effort. In the end it is hindsight and not really 20/20.

[weaktwos.livejournal.com]

I suppose there needs to be a definition of terms. Is all war a terrorist act? It certainly terrifying.

In the case of Japan, we were seeking to end a War. The alternative was an invasion involving our troops. In the case of the towers, the act involved individuals not directly representing a state, but an organization.

I understand the reasons for the bomb, and I understand the reasons for the twin towers. They are similar but different.

Of course, the Al Qaeda are more like the Japanese Kamikazis then the pilots of the Enola Gay.

But in the end, I suppose it makes no difference. It's really ending up to be people killing people.