|
| Which Horse you riding? |
| Barack Obama (D) |
|
60% |
[ 3 ] |
| Hillary Clinton (D) |
|
0% |
[ 0 ] |
| John McCain (R) |
|
0% |
[ 0 ] |
| Ron Paul (L) |
|
40% |
[ 2 ] |
|
| Total Votes : 5 |
|
| Author |
Message |
Mark B
User is Offline
Joined: 10 Feb 2008
Posts: 199
Location: Perth, WA (via Texas and UK)
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
@ebonX
I return to my now slightly edited earlier point ......
Even if they are terrorists and don't qualify as true prisoners of war, in the sense of a soldier who is captured in a battle, as people of countries who abhore terrorists we should rise above and treat them by the GC which we agreed to or else we'd be just as bad as them.
Some would argue that a terrorist is just a soldier or freedom fighter by another name.
Would a Special Forces soldeir planting explosives behind emeny lines which kill civilians but target say insurgent leaders be considered a terrorist ? What is the difference ? The fact he is part of a very large army ?
In the 1770's many of the people now beheld as heroes of the American Revolution were considered insurgents or terrorists by the British. Even in the late 20th century examples can be found, Nelson Mandella was a terrorist to the then apartied government of South Africa.
_________________
Mark B.
<insert slightly amusing one liner or meaningful famous quote here > |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jg
User is Offline
Joined: 09 Jun 2007
Posts: 177
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 2:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Was Timothy Mcveigh a freedom fighter?
Should we be clamoring for Terry Nichols release?
_________________
"Sensitivity?….WHO CARES"- jg |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JackedupLockedown
Site Admin
User is Offline
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
Posts: 137
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
To me I have no problem with "torture" as long as there are no long term or permanent physical effects.
Water Boarding, sleep deprivation etc are acts we willingly submit our own solders to during training and if these actions can be used to solicit information that can save a single life then by all means they should.
I don't think terrorists deserve protection under the Geneva convention but I do think potential or accused terrorists have the right to be treated humanely and with respect until proven innocent or guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
_________________
Jackie |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JackedupLockedown
Site Admin
User is Offline
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
Posts: 137
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| jg wrote: |
Was Timothy Mcveigh a freedom fighter?
Should we be clamoring for Terry Nichols release? |
I don't like that all inclusive argument. We're smart enough to make simple distinctions between right and wrong \ good and evil. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mark B
User is Offline
Joined: 10 Feb 2008
Posts: 199
Location: Perth, WA (via Texas and UK)
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
jg, with respect, that is a ridiculous arguement and I suspect you know it.
McVeigh and Nichols were not terrorists but two, for want of a better word "crazy" men. I do not believe their story about the Waco Siege, that was an excuse. Essentially they wanted, and got, their 15 mins of fame.
Terrorists are people who are wiling to die for their cause, McVeigh and Nichols had no cause to die for. If you include them as terrorists then you have to include the likes of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold as well as Seung-Hui Cho. Just becuase you have an axe to grind and decide to kill people it does not make you a terrorist.
The IRA, the Iraqi insurgents, Al-Qaeda, ETA, Hezbollah, the American Revolutionaries of 1770's, the Roundheads in the English Civil War, and on and on all have/had a cause no matter how misguided we may think it is/was.
Just for completeness here is a wikipedia list of terrorist organisations ....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_designated_terrorist_organizations
_________________
Mark B.
<insert slightly amusing one liner or meaningful famous quote here > |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jg
User is Offline
Joined: 09 Jun 2007
Posts: 177
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
@ Mark B
Yes. I agree it was ridiculous. I was being rhetorical. They are clearly murders in my eyes, but could someone take the position that they were "freedom fighters".
I thank you for your reply.
_________________
"Sensitivity?….WHO CARES"- jg |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mark B
User is Offline
Joined: 10 Feb 2008
Posts: 199
Location: Perth, WA (via Texas and UK)
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
@jg
I figured you were being either rhetorical or just plain argumentative.
Like I said by my wooly definition to be a true terrorist you must have a cause not just an axe to grind.
I don't recall who said it but whoever it was was to my mind correct. They said "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter". From the right angle someone fighting for a minority trying to overthrow the majority is a terrorist, to others he's a freedom fighter.
In LOST speak Widmore AND Ben fit in both 'boxes'. Both have a cause they believe is right, neither is willing to back down, both may be willing to die or at least send other to die, to protect or fight for their cause.
Seems even the big cheeses can't decide on a definition .....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition_of_terrorism
_________________
Mark B.
<insert slightly amusing one liner or meaningful famous quote here >
Last edited by Mark B on Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:56 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Joop©
User is Offline
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 39
Location: California
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
@ Mark B
Only a Brit would include the American Revolution in a list of misguided causes.
(rhetorical) 
_________________
Joop© |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mark B
User is Offline
Joined: 10 Feb 2008
Posts: 199
Location: Perth, WA (via Texas and UK)
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
@Joop
All Americans really want to be British, I think it's the accent.
And yes the scene in Love Actually happens all the time. 
If you've not seen it get it out on DVD for a romantic evening in with your significant other. It's really funny but has a predictable but romantic ending that women really like. My wife loves it and the movie < insert emoticon for smutty double entendre laugh here>
_________________
Mark B.
<insert slightly amusing one liner or meaningful famous quote here > |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
