[XorNot]

Terrorism[1] is committing crime for political purposes, rather then for personal gain, and this definition is well recognized.

Terrorism has never been exclusively categorized as mass casualty attacks (and that's a relatively recent phenomenon, compared to the 70s and 80s with hijackings).

[1] https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority...

[floating-io]

No.

Terrorism is when people use terror for political purposes. While it is often synonymous with crime, the "terror" part is rather critical. Most often, the terror is over the target's personal safety, or that of the target's loved ones.

Having an undersea cable cut does not terrify a sane person without extenuating circumstances. Therefore it may be an act of war, but it is not terrorism in the slightest.

Redefining "terrorism" for the purposes of treating lesser criminals under harsh terrorism laws is unethical, immoral, unjust, and downright awful.

[XorNot]

So if someone blows up a transformer substation, but no one dies, is that terrorism?

What about a building? A government office? An empty school?

Or here's a better question: what then do you call the use of criminal means, for political purposes, to gain compliance from local population and political authorities, when it doesn't include direct harm against humans and focuses on destruction of property?

[friend_and_foe]

Terrorism is acts to instil fear for political ends. Intent matters. If someone blows up a building to make people fearful, then it's terrorism. If someone does it to destroy someone's property, then its vandalism. By your logic, striking and blocking scabs is terrorism.

[XorNot]

And so in the current moment, why do you think the Houthis (if they are indeed responsible, but let's assume so for the sake of this argument) are cutting submarine cables?

What do you think the intent behind that was?

[friend_and_foe]

I would guess, to be as much of a nuisance as possible to those they percieve themselves to be at war with with what limited capabilities they have. They can't possibly believe that this will have significant economic impact so as to hamper their enemies' capability to continue to wage war. This will strike fear into the hearts of no one. But it's damage, and they can do it, so they do.

[XorNot]

So it's the use of destructive measures, which one might describe as "violence", targeted at assets utilized principally by civilians, for the purposes of affecting political change in policy by a government.

Were this to rise in severity from "nuisance", what would you describe that feeling as? What reaction do you think commonly provokes people exposed to negative stimuli into action they don't otherwise want to take?

[olliej]

Terrorism is the use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, for political purposes. [merriam Webster]

Taking out a communication cable is not that by any stretch of your quite substantial definitions below.

[FpUser]

Why are you bullshitting people? Straight from your referenced link:

"The calculated use of violence or threat of violence to inculcate fear. Terrorism is intended to coerce or intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological."

[15457345234]

It's categorically terrorism by that definition.

Objectively intended to coerce or intimidate governments: do as you're told if you want to have a viable economy, because so much of today's economy relies on communication.

[lupusreal]

"to inculcate fear" is an essential part of that definition. Using bombers to drop bombs on a sleeping city is terrorism. Dropping bombs onto an undersea cable is not.

[15457345234]

> Dropping bombs onto an undersea cable is not.

Of course it is, that's been covered upthread.

Literally the post you're replying to says:

> It's categorically terrorism by that definition.

So, to be clear:

It's categorically terrorism.

[FpUser]

>"It's categorically terrorism by that definition."

Another BS.

You are forgetting "violence" in that definition. Bar that any attempt to influence government is a terrorism.

[15457345234]

I mean, cutting cables is a violent act, property destruction is violence. Unless we're going to go with the weird reddit anarchist definition in which you can destroy whole structures and it isn't violence if nobody gets hurt because property isn't real, man

[orwin]

So the yellow vest were terrorists, as were the red caps. Which is funny, because that last movement was supported by 3 of the richest French industrialist. Can we nationalize them for supporting terrorists?

OH! And French farmers are terrorists too according to your definition of terrorism and violence.

Maybe violence against people and violence against stuff shouldn't be treated the same.

[15457345234]

Violence against stuff that is the support infrastructure for people is violence against people.