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Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wendell Berry on Terrorism and National Security
"The National Security Strategy defines terrorism as 'premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against innocents.' This is truly a distinct kind of violence, but to imply by the word 'terrorism' that this sort of terror is the work exclusively of 'terrorists' is misleading. The 'legitimate' warfare of technologically advanced nations likewise is premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against innocents. The distinction between the intention to perpetrate violence against innocents, as in 'terrorism,' and the willingness to do so, as in 'war,' is not a source of comfort" -from "A Citizen's Response to the National Security Strategy of the United States"
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I always thought it was disturbing that we so quickly got behind "Shock and Awe."
ReplyDeleteExpand "Shock and Awe" I am not sure I am following your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteA simple definition of terrorism is using violence to produce fear. What was the purpose of the huge military strike in Iraq and Afganistan with night bombing that lit up the sky for hours?
ReplyDeleteShock and awe, technically known as rapid dominance, is a military doctrine based on the use of overwhelming power, dominant battlefield awareness, dominant maneuvers, and spectacular displays of force to paralyze an adversary's perception of the battlefield and destroy its will to fight. The doctrine was written by Harlan K. Ullman and James P. Wade and is a product of the National Defense University of the United States in 1996.
From wikipedia