Terrorists: Patriots or Evil Criminals?

Question

Are terrorists criminals or are they patriots to their cause? Why do YOU think so?

Answer 1

one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter

Answer 2

They are men wearing religious robes.

Answer 3

evil criminals

Answer 4

In my opinion they are neither patriots or evil criminals. They are combatants. They have resources such as command and logistics, communication, weapons, and are supported by any one country that is part of that so call axis of evil. It is important that the UN open dialogue with these factions to resolve these matter in a civil manner. Nobody wants militant groups such as the PLO, Hamas, Hesbollah to have adverse  agendas with Israel. Israel at times makes the region very unstable and so does the different groups involve. The t*t for tat killings don't stop the attacks from happening. The only people that suffer are poor people who are looking for  tranquility and peace in their life.

Answer 5

Both. It depends what side of the fence you are looking from.

Answer 6

Patriots. They fight against oppression from governments much more powerful than them. You people ought to understand a little bit about that or have you forgotten your history?

Answer 7

dipend what you mean for Patriots

I been accuse to be an antiAmerican because I hate Bush or the Republicans and I'm against the Iraq War

for many sick people in this country I'm not a good American

moral I don't really like to compare my values with those claim to be a pure patriotic because must of them are fascist and racist and I believe all problems we face todays is for this extreme patriotic fanaticism and yes I will say this people are worse of the terrorists we all know.

and for sure this country it would be much much better

without them

Answer 8

Terrorists are those people who kill in the name of an obscure cause, like the Muslim zealots who kill in the name of Allah. They are evil criminals.

There are patriots who fight for freedom against oppression, like the resistance movement during WWII against the n**i occupiers. They are patriots.

The problem is that many people and the press manipulate those facts and white wash some of the terrorists.

Answer 9

maybe they are patriots to their cause but if they have to kill peoples that make them criminals! it doesn't  matter

how important is their cause,no one has the right to take the peoples life!that's my opinion!

Answer 10

both i think. for the people being terrorised they are terrorists. for themselves i guess they are martyrs.

Answer 11

discusting evil criminals. no cause can justify murdering innocent men women and children.

Answer 12

They are both.

Terrorists are criminals to their victims, and they are patriots to their cause.

Answer 13

you know i have had arguments with a lot of people about this, and this is my view. the definition of a terrorist:

the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear

is this not what the U.S and many other nations are doing everyday? instead of calling it terrorism they call it war though. Look going into someone elses country with soldiers armed with mi6's grenade launchers and b52's is terrorism. The majority of people say in iraq are good honest civilians just trying to go about their lives, yet there streets are lined with gun toting missle launching soldiers from foriegn lands! Remember:

the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals (the definition of terrorism)

1.the war in iraq is a calculated use of violence

2.on a daily basis they threaten civilians, maybe not directly but just by being their they are putting civilians lives at risk (surely that terrorizes them)

anyway thays my two cents!

Answer 14

terrorists........havent you heard the latest news they used mentally retarded people for suicide bombs..........i dont think any patriots ever did that ....... pretty much defines coward if you ask me

Answer 15

SEC. 802. DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM.

      (a) DOMESTIC TERRORISM DEFINED- Section 2331 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--

            (1) in paragraph (1)(B)(iii), by striking `by assassination or kidnapping' and inserting `by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping';

            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking `and';

            (3) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting `; and'; and

            (4) by adding at the end the following:

            `(5) the term `domestic terrorism' means activities that--

                  `(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;

                  `(B) appear to be intended--

                        `(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;

                        `(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or

                        `(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and

                  `(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.'.

      (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 3077(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

            `(1) `act of terrorism' means an act of domestic or international terrorism as defined in section 2331;'.

Answer 16

Most definitions of terrorism include only those acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for an ideological goal (as opposed to a lone attack), and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (civilians). All acts of terrorism by definition are illegal and therefore criminal and should never be considered patriotic. This is particularly true when we consider that Jihad ism is based on mis-guided religious fanaticism and has nothing to due with being patriotic.

Answer 17

Well if you call highjacking commercial airliners and crashing them into buildings killing 3,000 innocent citizens, or targeting civialians in market-places with suicide bombers patriotic, then yeah, I guess so.

Answer 18

it depends on what side you are on? are the French resistance terrorists or heroes? or what about the IRA?  people will always demonize those that are fighting against you regardless of why they are doing it.

Answer 19

some are patriots others are criminals

the members of the irish republican army were patriots

the radical terrorists are criminals

Answer 20

evil criminals because they kill civilians

I hope this isn't a serious question

Answer 21

It depends on what they do, how they do it and why.

Answer 22

Some terrorists i feel sorry for. They are brainwashed into performing foul crimes becase they have been convinced its the right thing to do.

The majority of these terrorists, are so because in the world where they live it is very hard to meet members of the opposite s*x and if they do having s*x is not allowed without marriage.

However if they die for islam they are promised 9 virgins in mecca or wherever it is they go. So it soudns appealing.

These real terrorists exploit this and convince them that they are dying for islam and will be rewarded in the next life., . . . and hey who would turn down 9 virgins when they cant get a ride.

Therefore i believe neither. Nothing gives anyone the right to invade their country, they have a right to defend it. Although the reason for invading their country are substantial.

There is no right and wrong answer i simply feel sorry for the young men who are talked into killing themselves with no purpose.

Answer 23

to ppl that believe strongly enough in wat they are doing ...they are patriots

to ppl that strongly believe in the opposite or are indifferent...they are evil criminals

almost every country has had some in the past

Answer 24

depends what side of the propaganda machine you are on.  I gotta say that they think they are patriots,  and i really cant disagree.