Talk:Terrorism in the United States

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Some of these incidents (and those in the UK) are listed in Kieth Olberman's 2006-09-25 report entitled The Nexis of of Terror and Politics where he lists a 10 embarrassing political moments that were then followed by the most questionable of these terrorist incidents and threat level alerts. This is compelling. If this matching happens, how could it be linked? Goatchurch 05:36, 27 September 2006 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Attack on 9/11 memorial

The attack on the 9/11 memorial/shrine for the police officer killed on 9/11 [1] was an act of terrorism not an act of vandalism. If some guy got drunk ollin)

By definition terrorist attacks must be violent with the intent to harm civilians. also the morality of what the terrorists are fighting for does not affect weather something is terrorism or not, so if this was an act of terrorism any time some one damaged a memorial, statue or grave stone, it would have to be considered terrorism. --Mathnsci 00:40, 9 November 2006 (UTC)
I guess that this is one of those definition arguments that can’t be resolved. Attacks do not have to physically harm people or attempt to physically harm people to be terrorism just create fear which attacks on 9/11 memorials can do. “any time some one damaged a memorial, statue or grave stone, it would have to be considered terrorism”. This is not what I am arguing at all. In 99% of cases like this it is not terrorism. When the attacker says “this is political” it is 69.114.117.103 16:58, 24 November 2006 (UTC) (Ed Kollin)

[edit] Attack on President Truman

Moved to failed attacks section 69.114.117.103 17:33, 4 November 2006 (UTC) (Ed Kollin)

[edit] Incidents that possibly should not in the article

Assassinations of President Lincoln and McKinley. While the acts were for political reasons they were "loner" and revenge in nature more then terrorist and were meant to be a one time thing and not involve the general population. Examples of terrorist assassinations are shooting as many policemen in Iraq as possible or the Ku Klux Klan assassinations in the U.S. If we accept a "loner" acting for political reasons the assassinations of Robert Kennedy,Martin Luther King and possibly John Kennedy must be included.

Black Tom explosion. This was taken out of the main terrorist incident article because suspected reason was the stopping of munitions not terror. An argument for article worthiness the U.S. was not at war with Germany at the time.

Bath School bombings. Although no reason is given Columbine is mentioned. Columbine was for personal revenge not political or social change.

The big problem with this list is the lack of cites in a majority of incidents listed so we do not know the motivation for these incidents therefore can not know if these are terrorist attacks. 69.114.117.103 07:31, 7 November 2006 (UTC) (Ed Kollin)

[edit] Acid bombs in Maine Wall Mart

OWHEGAN, Maine (AP) - Authorities in Maine say they've charged two teenagers with setting off homemade bombs in a Wal-Mart yesterday(Nov 25).The store was filled with holiday shoppers. Authorities say hundreds were evacuated and about eight were treated for eye or throat irritation after the acid bombs went off.Police say they identified the boys with the help of security camera photos.Both teens have been charged with criminal use of explosives. Investigators say the boys also planted two other explosives on the lawn of a residence and one on top of a building in downtown Skowhegan. None of those bombs detonated.

99% probability this is not terrorism but teenage kicks but because Wall Mart is controversial and no motive has been given this story should be watched 69.114.117.103 08:09, 28 November 2006 (UTC) (Ed Kollin)

[edit] Casey Cutler Ricen incident taken out

The arrests and detention section listed an incident in which Casey was convicted of making a Weapon of Mass Destruction. While this is true one cite quotes law enforcement as saying they do not think it was terrorism while the other cite claimed the weapon was for "personnel protection" 69.114.117.103 07:32, 7 December 2006 (UTC) (Ed Kollin)

[edit] Does Wilmington Insurrection of 1898 belong?

It is a borderline case as terrorist tactics were used but I would say no. This belongs under insurgency or rebellion. The difference is that a terrorist attack is done to create a climate of fear intended to make a political or social change possible. While being black in Wilmington was terrifying in 1898 the purpose was not to create a climate for eventual change but to make the change right at that moment. 69.114.117.103 06:17, 11 December 2006 (UTC) (Ed Kollin)

[edit] Unabomber?

Why isn't the Unabomber mentioned? Speciate 22:44, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Lynchings!

While there are a few mentions of race-related attacks here, I think there should be a category for them, or more specifically for the "Nadir of American race relations". Estimates do vary, but the NAACP (http://uncpress.unc.edu/chapters/estes_i.html) estimates about 3,500 lynchings between 1889 & 1922. That accounts for a lynching about every 3.5 days. Also, the main reason for the lynching was being alive and black, I am pretty sure that amounts to terrorism. RhodyJim 09:58, 14 January 2007 (UTC)24.60.84.143 02:50, 15 January 2007 (UTC)Jim

  • Absolutely it was terrorism. The KKK may be the worlds oldest terrorist group. The problem as mentioned in the KKK cites in the article is distinguishing organized stuff from revenge motivated lynchings. Speaking of more recent race related terror I think the police from the parish across the bridge from New Orleans stopping at gunpoint Katrina evacuees from crossing that bridge might count. It was using intimidation for a social objective. 69.114.117.103 07:42, 15 January 2007 (UTC) (Ed Kollin)
  • Well, I guess my issue comes with the idea of revenge motivated lynchings. For example, if we say that a revenge motivated lynching is not terrorism, then we would have to say that all terrorism by Al-Qaeda is not terrorism beacause it is revenge for perceived atrocities committed by the US Government. Any lynching, be it revenge or not, was a public display working outside of the courts of the US to instill fear in the rest of the black community. If it was simply revenge, people would not have been publicly displayed, nor taken from jails prior to trial.
My meaning of "revenge lynchings" is a rumor starts in a small town a black man was seen "harassing" a white women and a lynching happened as a result. This motivation in a case like this is personal. If KKK got involved (most of the police department were members etc) a broader motivation to pronounce this terrorism can be argued. The problem for a Wikipedia article in cases like this s proper citing. As for Al Qaeda while revenge is one motive there are many that do fit the definition of political or social change. 69.114.117.103 22:29, 27 January 2007 (UTC) (Ed Kollin)

[edit] Cole Bombing taken out

The title clearly states Terrorism in the United States this attack happened in Yemen. 69.114.117.103 22:31, 27 January 2007 (UTC) (Ed Kollin)

[edit] Anti Castro Terrorism

This has the potential of bieng a very good addition to the Article. But as of now the link does not work. Also it would be a good idea with this many incidents to summerize the a la Earth Liberation Front 69.114.117.103 04:18, 10 February 2007 (UTC) (Ed Kollin)

[edit] Should hoaxes be included as Acts of Terrorism?

It does not fall into use of force, but it may fall into "threatened use of violence". For example, the "white powder" hoaxes were intentionally meant to deceive someone to think of a poison, such as anthrax. Generally, these were also sent to influence political, religious, or ideological change.

Yes if you can cite that it was used to influence political,religious or ideological change. I disagree with your second sentence in that in my POV the white powder and the vast majority of other hoaxes are done because the hoaxer gets off on making other people jump. An incident that does belong was my entry that was later taken out in which in 1968 Abbie Hoffman threatened to poison the water of Chicago with LSD where the Democratic Party's presidential nominating convention was being held 69.114.117.103 07:57, 14 February 2007 (UTC) (Ed Kollin)

[edit] Columbine Massacre should be taken out

There are no political or social motives for the attack. The attack was not a statement against bullying in general. The attacks were not meant to scare a general population. The attacks were purely personal revenge. If anybody has any statements to the contrary I would be glad to hear it if not this should be taken out. 69.114.117.103 06:22, 5 March 2007 (UTC) (Ed Kollin)

[edit] Removal of Jewish Federation Shooting

Hello.
I've removed the jewish federation shooting. There are different reasons that one could give (eg. his mental instability making his actual motives unclear, the possibility of it being a misguided attempt at revenge rather than terrorism, etc etc etc), but there's really only one argument that cannot be argued against, so that's the only one I'll say:

Disputed events can't be included on the list. Yeah, I know, I'm sure that lots of terrorists and nutjobs can be found to say that [i]any[/i] attack wasn't really terrorism, but... in this case, well, just look at the article for the shooting itself.
The FBI, prosecutor, and the jewish federation themselves all called it a "hate crime", rather than terrorism. (It was also covered as a 'hate crime' by news outlets, for what that's worth)
Anyways, even though I'm sure many people will probably still call it terrorism, it still can't be denied that honest sane people can call it a 'hate crime' and still be rational. And, in this case, when even the jewish federation called it a hate crime, I'd say the 'terrorism' tag is certainly disputed.
As such, it can't be included in a list of terrorist events. Bladestorm 17:45, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

For an exhaustive discussion of the pro's and cons of allowing this incident to be included see the talk pages for the List of terrorist incidents [2] Edkollin 00:41, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Pipe Bomb like device at Disneyworld

A small pipe bomb like device exploded at a remote parking lot at DisneyWorld[3]. It should not be put in at this time as officials are saying it is not terrorism but probably rowdy teenagers. 99% percent likely this interpretation is correct especially as this occurred a few day before the 4th of July but keep an eye out for later revisions Edkollin 18:21, 4 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Black Tom/ Explosion

Should the explosion on Black Tom island be included o the list as well? It was the destruction of an American shipping/munitions depot by German spies in 1916. Since the US was still neutral in 1916 it would seem to be more fitting as an act of terrorism rather than as an act of war. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Stuuuuu (talk • contribs) 01:13, 3 September 2007 (UTC)

Agreed Edkollin 04:58, 12 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Is this incident article worthy?

http://www.nypost.com/seven/09162007/news/regionalnews/muslim_biz_gal_beaten.htm

September 16, 2007 -- The Muslim owner of a high-end nail and facial salon that caters to the likes of Jennifer Lopez was beaten and robbed yesterday in what Long Island cops called a bias attack. The attack followed two weeks of phone calls in which Iranian-American Zohreh Assemi was called a "terrorist" and told to "get out of town," friends and family said. She was opening her store in Locust Valley at around 6:30 a.m. when two men came out of a public bathroom and forced her inside the salon. They smashed her hand with a hammer, sliced her with a boxcutter and kicked her before taking about $2,000 in cash and scrawling anti-Muslim slurs on her mirrors, sources said. She was treated at North Shore University Hospital at Manhasset. "I'm in pain. I can't talk," sobbed a shaken Assemi, 52, as she left her store late yesterday afternoon. "They said, 'Your kind isn't welcomed here. You don't belong here,' " said Ginny Russo, a friend and customer. "You don't do that to people. That's so wrong Edkollin 06:22, 17 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Deleted Anti-Castro section

The Cuban-Exile.com website is not a credible reference and the article given (which supported every single alleged incident listed) is not even up. 129.71.73.243 (talk) 00:57, 6 June 2008 (UTC)