The definition of 'terrorism'.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

The shootings at Ft. Hood have spawned repeated use of the word 'terrorist' and subsequently, the murderous acts of Major Hasan were 'terrorism'. I personally disagree with that assessment. While many crimes involve an aspect of terrorizing the victim to gain compliance, I don't believe it makes them terrorist acts.

I'd like to get your opinions as to how you'd define 'terrorist' or 'terrorism'.

[MountainMan]

I have read several accounts. Despite that he supposedly yelled Allah akbar before shooting I'm not sure I would classfy this as a domestic terror act. If there were one other involved or a larger conspiracy definately terrorism.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

I think terrorism involves acts of violence which are intended to gain some sort of political advantage, no matter how convoluted.

I too heard the report that he yelled "Allah akbar" prior to shooting. I also heard he yelled for civilians to clear out of the building, so he evidently had specific targets of military personnel. Clearing out civilians isn't a tactic one generally associates with terrorists. Quite the contrary, civilian deaths are exactly what a 'terrorist' would want.

As there was no political gain to be accomplished by him murdering Soldiers, I wouldn't classify this as terrorism.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

I just found Arizona's statutory definition of terrorism:

12. "Terrorism" means any felony, including any completed or preparatory offense, that involves the use of a deadly weapon or a weapon of mass destruction or the intentional or knowing infliction of serious physical injury with the intent to either:

(a) Influence the policy or affect the conduct of this state or any of the political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities of this state.

(b) Cause substantial damage to or substantial interruption of public communications, communication service providers, public transportation, common carriers, public utilities, public establishments or other public services.

And a federal definition of "domestic terrorism":

The term is defined to mean activities occurring primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States involving acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or any state and appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.

[suzanne1020U.S.]

Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for an ideological goal (as opposed to a lone attack), and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants.
Hugs.

[PapaBear]

The definitions of terrorism are generally broken down into subcategories. This site lists the definitions of various agencies and list some of those subs. It is too lengthy to copy, so I provide the link:

U.S. Law Definition of Terrorism

[Piggy]

I think this one will boil down to his motive. If he was that against the war and U.S. presence in the middle east, that it turns out to be his primary motive, I would classify it as terrorism.

If he was just doing it because he's a nutball and didn't want to deploy, I would say it was not.

FBI definintion: International terrorism involves violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or any state, or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the United States or any state. These acts appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination or kidnapping and occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United States or transcend national boundaries in terms of the means by which they are accomplished, the persons they appear intended to intimidate or coerce, or the locale in which their perpetrators operate or seek asylum. [18 U.S.C. § 2331(1)]

[cntryboy0531]

I think this one will boil down to his motive. If he was that against the war and U.S. presence in the middle east, that it turns out to be his primary motive, I would classify it as terrorism.

If he was just doing it because he's a nutball and didn't want to deploy, I would say it was not.

FBI definintion: International terrorism involves violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or any state, or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the United States or any state. These acts appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination or kidnapping and occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United States or transcend national boundaries in terms of the means by which they are accomplished, the persons they appear intended to intimidate or coerce, or the locale in which their perpetrators operate or seek asylum. [18 U.S.C. § 2331(1)]

I agree 100%

Depends on his motive.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

I've heard some talking heads refer to one Muslim not wanting to kill another Muslim in battle. I wanted to pick up the phone and call in, telling them their full of shee-ot. Ever hear of the Arab version of the Hatfields & McCoys? I call them the Sunni & Shia. They have NO problem killing one another - in mass quanitities even.

This dude just plain cracked and decided to kill as many Soldiers as he could before getting killed himself.

[CityOfChicago]

As usual, terrorism = muslim/arab.

There is a great scene in season 1 of The Wire that's SPOT ON. The Baltimore dic's are talking to the FBI about making a federal case against the dealers they are working. Basically the feeb tells them no, because they only work either terorism or political corruption. The spot-on part is where Det. McNulty says "You want terrorism? What about the bodies all these dealers drop and the hold they have over the area?" The head feeb says "That type of hyperbole serves no one, Detective"

It's true. If we could classify every felony act that causes 'terror' in the community as 'terrorism', the term would lose all meaning.

[retdetsgt]

To me, terrorist are those who are acting against us as a culture and our government. It can be muslims or it can be someone like Timothy McVeigh. They're not acting out of personal gain or profit, but for some goofy ideological crap.

[ChevySSP]

The man was single and had no kids. You have to ask yourself what other motive would have of not going other than not wanting to contribute to a fight against his religion?

[Silver Fox]

The shootings at Ft. Hood have spawned repeated use of the word 'terrorist' and subsequently, the murderous acts of Major Hasan were 'terrorism'. I personally disagree with that assessment. While many crimes involve an aspect of terrorizing the victim to gain compliance, I don't believe it makes them terrorist acts.

I'd like to get your opinions as to how you'd define 'terrorist' or 'terrorism'.

I would define terrorism simply as one person or a group of people implanting fear into another person or a group of people through action or inaction.

Examples would be... the past actions of the KKK a group which instilled fear into a race of people by the garb they wore, the burning of crosses/churches and hangings.

[retdetsgt]

The man was single and had no kids. You have to ask yourself what other motive would have of not going other than not wanting to contribute to a fight against his religion?

There are a lot, and I mean a lot of people who have protested against having to go to combat and religion had nothing to do with it. His religion should be addressed, but it's foolhardy to immediately assume that's the only reason or a reason at all.

A hell of a lot of people refused to go to Vietnam who had no wife, kids, etc. and religion didn't have squat to do with it.

Rule #1 of being an investigator, keep an open mind and follow the evidence, not your own preconceived ideas. I'm not saying religion wasn't the reason, but there are a lot of reasons other than religion. Of course, never ignore the obvious, but don't offhandedly dismiss other possibilities either. I've worked a lot of homicides that looked like one thing at the start, but we discovered it was a totally different ball game after we got into the investigation.

[Silver Fox]

There are a lot, and I mean a lot of people who have protested against having to go to combat and religion had nothing to do with it. His religion should be addressed, but it's foolhardy to immediately assume that's the only reason or a reason at all.

A hell of a lot of people refused to go to Vietnam who had no wife, kids, etc. and religion didn't have squat to do with it.

Rule #1 of being an investigator, keep an open mind and follow the evidence, not your own preconceived ideas. I'm not saying religion wasn't the reason, but there are a lot of reasons other than religion. Of course, never ignore the obvious, but don't offhandedly dismiss other possibilities either. I've worked a lot of homicides that looked like one thing at the start, but we discovered it was a totally different ball game after we got into the investigation.

The thing that scares the crap outta me is the fact that there are Muslims in our military, some are fanatic radicals while others are not. How do you distingush between the two.