What is the difference between terrorism and war?

[Willh]

In your opinion.

[GalvestonDuck]

Terrorism is when brainwashed cowards torture and kill innocent people in unprovoked attacks, in an effort to bring about fear, panic, and intimidation.

War is a violent but necessary conflict, characterized by brave men and women fighting to protect innocent lives from those who seek to terrorize them, and it is necessary because diplomatic reasoning and/or negotiations are not possible.

In short, apples and oranges.

[coriolis]

Terrorism is non traditional measures employed by a minority when they can't win a conventional war. Terrorism does not seek to gain territory, it seeks to intimidate the majority into making concessions until the terrorists get what they want.

The people that bombed the train in spain inflicted pain for gain, seeking to change the gov't there without having the numbers to do it the tradional way. Classic case.

[Rainband]

Most of the time War is Justifiable and necessary. Terrorism is a bunch of cowards killing people for no logical reason other than there God told them to do it

[Anonymous]

Terrorism is when brainwashed cowards

Please explain why you believe terrorists are "cowards."

War is a violent but necessary conflict, characterized by brave men and women fighting to protect innocent lives from those who seek to terrorize them, and it is necessary because diplomatic reasoning and/or negotiations are not possible.

This is a poor definition of war IMO because it only applies to this "war on terrorism." What about traditional wars such as WWI/II, Vietnam, etc., where neither side are terrorists? Are both sides justified simply because they are using traditional means to fight?

[Anonymous]

Terrorism is non traditional measures employed by a minority when they can't win a conventional war. Terrorism does not seek to gain territory, it seeks to intimidate the majority into making concessions until the terrorists get what they want.

The people that bombed the train in spain inflicted pain for gain, seeking to change the gov't there without having the numbers to do it the tradional way. Classic case.

Absolutely, and while I strongly condemn terrorism such as what was seen in Spain, I do not blame some indivuals in a minority for resorting to unconventional means. If you strongly believe in your cause and don't have the numbers but still have the means to make an impact with relatively few people, why not employ that method? Human lives are lost in both war and terrorism, and IMO an unjustified war fought conventionally is no better than terrorism.

[Willh]

Why does a war have to involve a nation to be justified or defined as such?

And why are terrorists cowards? Because they're giving up their lives for what they believe in?
I guess you could say the militia is a form of terrorism, especially back in the late 1700's on the east coast of North America. Freaking cowards.

[Lindaloo]

brett, the term coward is because they choose to hide and attack. Not to mention they cover their cowardly faces. Do you see the United States military hiding to attack? Nope.

[Willh]

brett, the term coward is because they choose to hide and attack. Not to mention they cover their cowardly faces. Do you see the United States military hiding to attack? Nope.

You told me the other day that I said something you felt was the dumbest thing you'd ever heard.
Well, I think you just took the honors from me...this is just garbage, what you've said here.
You can't possibly see that as logical reasoning.

[Lindaloo]

brett, the term coward is because they choose to hide and attack. Not to mention they cover their cowardly faces. Do you see the United States military hiding to attack? Nope.

You told me the other day that I said something you felt was the dumbest thing you'd ever heard.
Well, I think you just took the honors from me...this is just garbage, what you've said here.
You can't possibly see that as logical reasoning.

When have you EVER seen a terrorist out in the open launching an attack? If you can find one incident then please feel free to make me your sidekick. lol.

And BTW, I did not say it was the dumbest, I said it was almost the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

[Anonymous]

brett, the term coward is because they choose to hide and attack. Not to mention they cover their cowardly faces. Do you see the United States military hiding to attack? Nope.

That makes absolutely no sense to me.

They choose to hide and attack because to do otherwise would mean automatic defeat. It is easy for you to sit there and set the standards for how war "should" be fought because you are living in the most powerful nation in the world; something tells me that if you were living in the least powerful, you'd be changing your story a bit.

By the way, the United States military certainly does carry out some missions with stealth involved (e.g., special forces), and as such would seem to fit your definition of cowardice.

[Lindaloo]

brett, the term coward is because they choose to hide and attack. Not to mention they cover their cowardly faces. Do you see the United States military hiding to attack? Nope.

That makes absolutely no sense to me.

They choose to hide and attack because to do otherwise would mean automatic defeat. It is easy for you to sit there and set the standards for how war "should" be fought because you are living in the most powerful nation in the world; something tells me that if you were living in the least powerful, you'd be changing your story a bit.

By the way, the United States military certainly does carry out some missions with stealth involved (e.g., special forces), and as such would seem to fit your definition of cowardice.

Sorry you see no sense in it. And you said it, "they choose to attack because to do otherwise would mean automatic defeat" I REST MY CASE!! C-O-W-A-R-D-S.

[Willh]

brett, the term coward is because they choose to hide and attack. Not to mention they cover their cowardly faces. Do you see the United States military hiding to attack? Nope.

You told me the other day that I said something you felt was the dumbest thing you'd ever heard.
Well, I think you just took the honors from me...this is just garbage, what you've said here.
You can't possibly see that as logical reasoning.

When have you EVER seen a terrorist out in the open launching an attack? If you can find one incident then please feel free to make me your sidekick. lol.

And BTW, I did not say it was the dumbest, I said it was almost the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

Well, there are these people who go out in the open, ride buses...and then blow themselves up.
Perhaps you'd prefer they take guns and do the job, that way they'd be killed by their enemy, as opposed to by themselves.
Because, you know, that somehow makes it entirely different.

Have you never read about the nature of the Revolutionary War? What about the film the Patriot? In that man alone we have the definition of a terrorist. Al Qaeda is nothing more than a militia.
They are the minority.
Of course they're gonna hide after they've attacked...it's called strategy...

[CaluWxBill]

The difference b/w war and terrorism?

Well first of all you are comparing a strategy to a conflict. Terrorism needs no reason and is an act which is meant only to intimidate. While war is a broadscale conflict that pits one group against another.

For instance the US chooses (wisely) not to use terrorism in their war on the "terrorists". While the "terrorists" use terrorism as a strategy to try to win their war on America.

[Anonymous]

brett, the term coward is because they choose to hide and attack. Not to mention they cover their cowardly faces. Do you see the United States military hiding to attack? Nope.

That makes absolutely no sense to me.

They choose to hide and attack because to do otherwise would mean automatic defeat. It is easy for you to sit there and set the standards for how war "should" be fought because you are living in the most powerful nation in the world; something tells me that if you were living in the least powerful, you'd be changing your story a bit.

By the way, the United States military certainly does carry out some missions with stealth involved (e.g., special forces), and as such would seem to fit your definition of cowardice.

Sorry you see no sense in it. And you said it, "they choose to attack because to do otherwise would mean automatic defeat" I REST MY CASE!! C-O-W-A-R-D-S.

Another point I didn't mention that is even more relevant to the original thread topic is how the actions they perform, regardless of whether they are out in the open or not (which really has no bearing on cowardice IMO), are (not) cowardly. United States troops risk their lives on the battlefield for their country; terrorists GIVE their lives for their cause -- in many cases the very nature of their mission requires their death. To get on the airplanes on September 11 and struggle with passengers and crash those planes -- it may be unconventional, but it certainly requires bravery.

[Lindaloo]

Actually yes, they should come out in the open with their guns so we can kill them before they can kill innocent people. If they were not cowards they would. Seems they want to kill themselves anyway. Why sneak and do it.

Sorry, I do not back your support of Al Quaeda.

And brett, what exactly do you think their cause is?

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I do not back your support of Al Quaeda.

Great debate tactic, I must say! LMAO.

[Lindaloo]

The difference b/w war and terrorism?

Well first of all you are comparing a strategy to a conflict. Terrorism needs no reason and is an act which is meant only to intimidate. While war is a broadscale conflict that pits one group against another.

For instance the US chooses (wisely) not to use terrorism in their war on the "terrorists". While the "terrorists" use terrorism as a strategy to try to win their war on America.

Excellent!!

[Lindaloo]

Sorry, I do not back your support of Al Quaeda.

Great debate tactic, I must say! LMAO.

Oh well.

[Willh]

Actually yes, they should come out in the open with their guns so we can kill them before they can kill innocent people. If they were not cowards they would. Seems they want to kill themselves anyway. Why sneak and do it.

Sorry, I do not back your support of Al Quaeda.

And brett, what exactly do you think their cause is?

lol.