There has to be a distinction between civilian and military targets?
It seems to me that the perspective of heads of State is thus: If the press finds out its good to have an answer ready. The rest of the time? Who cares? An overwhelming show of force will get the point across.
Terrorism must succeeed somehow, or it would die out.
I don't think that assessment is wrong. Though I think that terrorism is born more out of desperation, poverty, hopelessness, frustration and ignorance than anything else.
Please understand that I don't pretend to be an expert or even very educated about the matter. A large part of me agrees with what either you or _blackjack wrote earlier in that societies that are more prosperous tend to be more free. My cynicism takes it to the next step in saying that, in modern times, terrorists are the stupid dopes who have their ideologies used against them by their leadership for their leadership's own ends.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2004-03-15 07:06 am (UTC)It seems to me that the perspective of heads of State is thus: If the press finds out its good to have an answer ready. The rest of the time? Who cares? An overwhelming show of force will get the point across.
Terrorism must succeeed somehow, or it would die out.
I don't think that assessment is wrong. Though I think that terrorism is born more out of desperation, poverty, hopelessness, frustration and ignorance than anything else.
Please understand that I don't pretend to be an expert or even very educated about the matter. A large part of me agrees with what either you or