# Why Call it a "Terrorist" Attack? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 22, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445 "2003-03-22T23:26:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/1 "2003-03-22T23:26:23Z")
In the last hour or so, someone threw grenades into command tents at one of our bases in Kuwait, injuring at least eight soldiers. CNN refers to this as a “terrorist attack.” I don’t get it. This is a war. If our soldiers attack, it’s termed “combat,” but any attack on our side is “terrorism?” How is it “terrorism” to sneak into an enemy camp and attack by throwing grenades? Isn’t this just a normal part of war? As I understand it, terrorism is acts which are designed to instill fear in the populace. It gives me the impression that our media is not reporting this incident fairly. If anything, call it a “sneak attack” or infiltration. It’s as if they feel that they must call anyone who attacks us “terrorists” even if we’re engaged in open conflict. It’s absurd. Under this defintion, the use of an A-10 Attack Aircraft could be considered terrorism. ---
**Author:** ![Shana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Shana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shana)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/2 "2003-03-22T23:42:29Z")
The use of the word “terrorism” certainly seems erroneous in that instance - but then, I’m not terribly impressed with CNN these days. They’re really starting to irk me. Maybe I’ve just been watching it too much?? ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/3 "2003-03-23T00:10:05Z")
I think it’s “terrorism” because it happened in Kuwait, an allied country, and not technically in hostile territory – same as if, say someone tossed a grenade over the fence of one of our bases in England. Admittedly it’s a fine line, but CNN’s description is probably technically correct. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/4 "2003-03-23T00:35:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stuyguy \* > \*\*I think it’s “terrorism” because it happened in Kuwait, an allied country, and not technically in hostile territory – same as if, say someone tossed a grenade over the fence of one of our bases in England. > > Admittedly it’s a fine line, but CNN’s description is probably technically correct. \*\* I do see your point, but if Iraqi troops skipped across the border into Turkey, should we not be allowed to attack them because they’ve crossed the line? This is not a game of “tag” in which just by touching the “base” you can avoid being tagged. One of our major problems in Vietnam was because Vietnamese soldiers kept slipping over into Cambodia where we could not attack them. We then attacked Cambodia in order to get at the Vietnamese troops there, justifying by saying that they were using that country as a “safe harbor” to store their troops before attacking us. We are using that country as a base to store our troops in order to attack their country. It’s my opinion that at attack on a military target in time of war (or armed conflict–whatever you want to call it) cannot ever be called “terrorism.” Our troops should not reasonably consider themselves safe or “off limits” just because they’re on the other side of that line. No soldier on the “other side” can be expected to say, “Aw, shoot! They crossed the border before we could get them. Oh well! Better luck next time.” ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/5 "2003-03-23T00:56:00Z")
I’m guessing it’s because they suspect it was non-combatant, local Kuwaitis. They’ve gotten rid of all locals in camp. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/6 "2003-03-23T01:35:35Z")
Latest news = an AMERICAN SOLDIER is being questioned about this incident! So sez a CNN reporter. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/7 "2003-03-23T01:39:56Z")
FOX also has story that it was a soldier caught hiding in a nearby tent. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/8 "2003-03-23T02:07:40Z")
Now, given that the prime suspect is an insider, it’s being called as a “criminal act,” not a “terrorist act.” ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Goo\_Fee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Doctor\_Goo\_Fee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Goo_Fee)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/9 "2003-03-23T02:15:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kniz \* > \*\*FOX also has story that it was a soldier caught hiding in a nearby tent. \*\* Can you direct me to that story?? I can’t find it. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Goo\_Fee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Doctor\_Goo\_Fee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Goo_Fee)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/10 "2003-03-23T02:38:09Z")
nevermind-- i found it now ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/11 "2003-03-23T07:33:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stuyguy \* > \*\*Now, given that the prime suspect is an insider, it’s being called as a “criminal act,” not a “terrorist act.” \*\* “Criminal” hell! That’s _treason_. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/12 "2003-03-23T07:41:05Z")
Only with two witnesses or a full confession in open court. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/13 "2003-03-23T07:48:51Z")
Peanuthead: It’s not treason (please check the Constitution {the document, not the aged wooden sailing vessel}). It’s a criminal act, murder and attempted murder. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/14 "2003-03-23T11:06:48Z")
From the dictionary: TREASON: 1. A crime that undermines the offender’s government ``` 2. Disloyalty by virtue of subversive behavior 3. An act of deliberate betrayal ``` ---
**Author:** ![legion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/15 "2003-03-23T12:04:57Z")
Disturbingly, the British press find the need to describe the US soldier being held as a “black Muslim”. ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/16 "2003-03-23T12:09:53Z")
Methinks various news sources with a hard-on for the word “terrorism” need to learn the word “paramilitary”. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/17 "2003-03-23T12:33:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by legion \* > \*\*Disturbingly, the British press find the need to describe the US soldier being held as a “black Muslim”. \*\* Have you got a cite for that? Neither the BBC nor ITN have mentioned that fact and the only paper I’ve seen today is an _Observer_ that was printed too early to cover the story in depth. ---
**Author:** ![mecaenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mecaenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mecaenas)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/18 "2003-03-23T12:42:15Z")
It’s defined as ‘terrorism’ because CNN is just the mouthpiece of Washington - much like Iraq’s state-run TV station is the mouthpiece of Saddam’s regime. It’s a propaganda war. ---
**Author:** ![MarkF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MarkF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarkF)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/19 "2003-03-23T13:41:05Z")
I was watching the reports this morning and am positive the anchor on BBC (either Murghnahan or Mawhinney) referred to the soldier as being a muslim. Looking at the article on the website [here](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2877087.stm) it is not referred to as such. Probably wise at the moment. [/understatement] ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445/20 "2003-03-23T15:07:32Z")
Over at Google News, there’s still one link to the “Black Muslim” usage, although when you go to read the story, it seems to have disappeared in the current edition. [http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&scoring=d&q=“black+muslim”+cbs&btnG=Search+News](http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&scoring=d&q=%22black+muslim%22+cbs&btnG=Search+News) The summary at Google News says that CBS reported the phrase, and the story was 9 hours old when I read it at 10 AM this Sunday morning. So it must have been out there. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-call-it-a-terrorist-attack/163445.md?page=2)