John Sessoms wrote:
From: Darren Addy
We tend to assume "terrorist" immediately these days, until proven
otherwise, don't we?
I mean... it could have been a small meteorite/asteroid impact now,
couldn't it?
Or maybe Mr. Creosote just had a bit too much for lunch again?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPkOv0-u6A0
Apologies in advance...
There is no doubt a bomb was deliberately detonated in the area of
Oslo where the Prime Minister's offices are located. Nor is there any
question a gunman opened fire on a youth camp sponsored by the Prime
Minister's political party.
Those are both prima facie "terrorist" acts. No assumption necessary.
I think you may mean we automatically assume the "terrorist" is
motivated by Islamic fundamentalism.
Like I said elsewhere, I think according to some definitions, political
goals must be involved for the acts to be defined as "terrorism", i.e.
if someone did it just because they were raving mad, it's not strictly
speaking terrorism, even though that acts are the same, and just as
terrible (and terrifying) in their own right... But I suppose there
isn't really one definition of "terrorism" that everyone agrees on.
Incidentally, the explosion immediately reminded me of the one in the
City of London in 1993 - a time when what many people assumed was that a
"terrorist" had to be Irish...
As yet, the authorities in Norway are being careful not to accuse any
specific ideology, although they have announced two suspects are in
custody. I have just now seen a report that a group identifying itself
as "Helpers of Global Jihad" has claimed responsibility. How truly
representative of Islam they are is open to question.
It's also not unheard of that extremist organisations have claimed
responsibility for acts they had absolutely nothing to do with, I believe...
My real concern is the inevitable loss of freedom Norwegians will
suffer as a result of the increased security this necessitates. For
that, I do blame the "terrorist".
Let's hope there won't be too many freedoms lost, or terrorist have
already won, haven't they?
- Toralf
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