Comments on: 3 Reasons Why Murdering an Abortion Doctor Isn’t Being Called “Terrorism”

By: Kee

Kee — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:15:24 +0000

While this post brings up some good points, I’m afraid I have to disagree with your conclusion. Terrorism is a very complex issue, and its definition is still open to debate. However, most scholars agree that three criteria must be present in order for an act of violence to be considered terrorism:

1. Terrorists are non-state actors: Under international law, only states have the ability to use “legitimate force”. This means that acts of violence committed by individuals or groups not affiliated with any government are not valid and can potentially be considered terrorism. (On a side note, this is why the US military’s actions in Iraq are not considered terrorism like the post suggests they should be. Since the military is a state actor, it is by definition excluded from being a terrorist actor.)

2. Terrorists use violence for a political purpose.

3. Terrorism involves seemingly random acts of violence against people (usually civilians). Targets generally have no strong connection to the political purpose the terrorists are trying to support.

Dr. Tiller’s murder fits the first two criteria: the killer was a non-state actor, and he was motivated by a political, anti-abortion agenda. However, Dr. Tiller was specifically singled out for being a high-profile abortion provider. His murder was hardly a random act against an uninvolved target. For this reason, Dr. Tiller’s murder would be more accurately considered a political assassination rather than an act of terrorism. It’s a simple matter of definition rather than a semantics game motivated by some sinister agenda.

By: melissawf

melissawf — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:58:01 +0000

I would compare this Roeder guy to Ted Kaczinski. Different areas of “activism” but same type of situation. One person who took their “passion” too far. I don’t know if one exception to a whole activist group could be coined an act of terrorism which you would generally associate with an organized group of people whether it be 2 people or 100 or whatever.

By: Youth Against Animal Cruelty

Youth Against Animal Cruelty — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:52:52 +0000

Denis Alexander, can you give us an example, a link, some kind of proof, or anything that says the SHAC7 were “blowing up cars and setting homes on fire at UCSC” ?

By: Tiller Murder Suspect Threatens More Violence from Jail (but Don’t Call Him a Terrorist) « Unsilent Generation

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:48:07 +0000

[...] activists, or even Republican Convention protestors, as Will Potter notes on his excellent web site Green Is the New Red: The FBI labels the animal rights and environmental movements as the “number one domestic [...]

By: simon

simon — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:15:22 +0000

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090607/ap_on_re_us/us_abortion_shooting
From the AP on 6/7/09

Suspect in Kan. doctor’s death warns of violence:

“I know there are many other similar events planned around the country as long as abortion remains legal,” Roeder said.

again….how is this not terrorism?

By: VR

VR — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:32:45 +0000

Thanks Will. What is most ironic is that all the “liberals” on Rachel’s show warned about using the terrorist/terrorism label too freely. Except, apparently when it comes to animal activists and enviros.

By: Will Potter

Will Potter — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:16:57 +0000

VR:
I reached out to them about the Communications Management Units and the AETA 4 arrests, and got some interest (but nothing happened).

By: VR

VR — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:00:36 +0000

Great job Will – thank you!

Rachel Maddow, from The Rachel Maddow Show, has been calling Dr. Tiller’s murder “domestic terrorism.” She also questioned why his killer was not picked up by the FBI before he killed. Another clinic had twice reported the killer to the FBI just prior Dr. Tiller’s murder. I emailed Rachel to say they were too busy arresting animal activists for chalking sidewalks. Also, since the SHAC 7 were jailed for running a website, why aren’t those who targetted Dr. Tiller via the Internet getting locked up; you should see their websites! What do you think about your reaching out to Rachel Maddow about this issue?

By: Why the Murder of Dr. Tiller is not being Called Terrorism « Memoirs of a Genderqueer Femme Anarchist

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:15:12 +0000

[...] the Murder of Dr. Tiller is not being Called Terrorism Green is the New Red gives three reasons why the murder of Dr. Tiller isn’t being called terro… And I think the third reason really encapsulates the why really effectively; it’s not [...]

By: easyVegan.info » Blog Archive » The easyVegan Weekend Activist, No. 6

easyVegan.info » Blog Archive » The easyVegan Weekend Activist, No. 6 — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:47:21 +0000

[...] Green is the New Red: 3 Reasons Why Murdering an Abortion Doctor Isn’t Being Called “Terrorism�… [...]