Stack, Bedell, and Hasan

[unixronin]

STRATFOR discusses whether Joe Stack and John Patrick Bedell were terrorists.

Personally, I don't think it is productive to label every lone nut a terrorist.  One should not confuse the intent to create terror as a political tactic with the intent to strike a blow at a government that one has come to hate or fear.  Judging by the evidence available, Bedell was mentally unstable; Stack had simply reached the end of his rope.  But terrorism is, ultimately, a considered, rational act.  Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan's actions and motivation meet a reasonable definition of terrorism.  Stack's and Bedell's do not, and broadening the definition of terrorism to encompass every new berserker is not only misleading, it cannot but end up doing harm to our civil liberties.

Comments

[dafydd.livejournal.com]

Dave Cullen over at Slate called bullsh*t (http://bit.ly/b5ipqG) on Joe Stack's motivations. When I originally posted that, I got a note back that Mr. Stack was also a, um, "contributing member" of alt.conspiracy.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Oh, sure, no argument that Stack was a complete tinfoil-beanie wacko. But he wasn't, IMHO, a terrorist.

[dafydd.livejournal.com]

I agree. On the other hand, I don't agree that Stack had "reached the end of his rope." His burning of his house, leaving his wife and child homeless, suggests to me that this was blaze-of-"glory" narcissism, as opposed to someone with nothing left to lose.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Well, actually, considering he set fire to his house with his wife and daughter inside, I think his intention was to take them with him, not leave them homeless. I file that under "lost his marbles", not under narcissism. One might say that his rope was badly frayed to start with. ;)

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

Considering that terrorism usually fails, I wonder if it is ever a rational strategy or just better-dressed madness.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Many things fail. That doesn't make them irrational. One can decide on a course of action for completely rational reasons, and still be wrong.

[lebo-superman.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about this all day, and frankly, I think your last 11 words sum up the whole reason for this trend (broadening the definition of "terrorist"). For years, the government has been steadfast in moving to restrict civil liberty in all forms.