What is a terrorist?

[Chemisse]

Are we using the word too readily, too loosely?

The Princeton Review says:

terrorist (a radical who employs terror as a political weapon; usually organizes with other terrorists in small cells; often uses religion as a cover for terrorist activities)

and

terrorism, act of terrorism, terrorist act (the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear)

[Chemisse]

1. Since the Republicans want to tack terrorist acts up on Obama's scorecard

We need to guard against overuse of the word.

Do we really want a freaked out guy with a small plane and a grudge against the IRS to be another black mark on Obama's record? Another way for Cheney to say he hasn't kept us safe?

[dipsydoodle]

2. It's worth noting

that the USA didn't classify the IRA as a terror group until after 9/11. So - the answer to your question may well be
whatever suits you as a country as a matter of convenience at any single point in time.

[Chemisse]

11. Seems sloppy - I like actual definitions

Like a political objective, and really - I think - more than one person acting alone, particularly if he is going to end his reign of terrorism just as he starts - with a suicide mission.

So I would say a group of people with a political objective, whose actions of terrorizing and killing people is intended to help them toward reaching some kind of goal.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. Someone who has weapons but no air force. n/t

[rug]

4. A rare photo of terrorists in action.

http://www.cleveland.com/world/index.ssf/2008/10/air_force_recruiting_pilots_fo.html

[RC]

5. Talk about your job security, huh?

It's almost a given that every time they blow something up, they have more excuses to blow something up. This works great for camel drivers, but try this against some country that can reach over here. And people wonder why Iran wants working nukes. Stupid people.

[rug]

6. The Barcalounger has replaced the keffiyeh as the symbol of terror.

[stray cat]

7. I guess it has to be someone you disagree with at least based on online sites

[deacon]

8. A person that crashes planes into buildings? n/t

[Chemisse]

10. So if a guy was jealous because his wife was sleeping with some guy

And he had his own plane, and he crashed it into his house, killing the wife, etc, then he is a terrorist?

[mmonk]

9. The Princeton Review seems to have been influenced

by current politics. Terrorism is a political act of violence to terrorize the subjects that constitute the opposition.