Text 16681, 70 rader
Skriven 2005-11-21 11:56:04 av Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555)
  Kommentar till text 16641 av FRANK SCHEIDT (1:123/140)
Ärende: Terrorist Groups
========================
 MVDV>>> Wrong. Ever heard about the IRA? The RAF? ETA?
 >
 >> Ooooops!  You're right ... [sigh] I had forgotten about the IRA

 MVDV>> Selective memory eh?

 > If you mean I *deliberately* forgot that, you're wrong ... *again* ...

The "if" applies. The "deliberately" is your word, not mine.

 >> ... to me "RAF" means Royal Air Force (of WWII)

 MVDV>> It also means "Rote Armee Fraction". A German terrorist Group.
 MVDV>> AKA Baader Meinhoff Gruppe.

 > OK, I've heard of that group but don't recall reading it ever
 > designated as "RAF"

Then perhaps you should tone down a bit when bragging about how well informed
you are.

 >> and "ETA" means Estimated Time of Arrival ...

 MVDV>> Euskadi ta Askatasuna. Meaning "Bask land and Freedom". It
 MVDV>> is the Bask liberation movement. Over 800 people were killed
 MVDV>> by their terrorist attacks.

 > I've never heard the Basque movement being given that
 > designation either.

Then perhaps you should tone down a bit when bragging about how
well informed you are.

 MVDV>>> The US did not invent terrorism, it has been here for decades.
 >
 >> Yep ... sad, but true, and it will probably be around for a
 >> few more centuries ...

 MVDV>> Terrorism is just another way of armed conflict and that is
 MVDV>> just an extension of diplomacy.

 > You must be using a strange definition of "diplomacy".

Clausewitz.

 > Terrorism is merely a more violent form of vandalism.

No, it is asymetric warfare.

It is what you get where one party in an armed conflict has vast military
superiority over the other. The party with no conventional military force has
no choice but to revert to other methods.

Depending on who wins and gets to write the history books, they are called
freedom fighters or terrorists.

 MVDV>> It is noteworthy that none of the above conflicts were solved
 MVDV>> by the hardliner attack of the USA. The conflict in Ireland
 MVDV>> was solved by finally listening to what these people really
 MVDV>> want and the conflict with the Basks is going the same way.

 > We'll see ...

I doubt that you will ever see it. If you had an open mind you would have see
the light by now.

Cheers, Michiel

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