Terrorists, right under our noses!

The dictionary defines both terrorism, and torture as:

ter·ror·ism
–noun
1.the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.
2.the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.
3.a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government.
4.The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.
5.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
6.Acts of violence committed by groups that view themselves as victimized by some notable historical wrong.
tor·ture
–noun
1. the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty.
2. a method of inflicting such pain.
3. Often, tortures. the pain or suffering caused or undergone.
4. extreme anguish of body or mind; agony.
5. a cause of severe pain or anguish.

In this sense and understanding it would be safe to say that torture is indeed the infliction of violence, or in the case of mental torture, the threat of violence to coerce an individual, and also the corresponding group of affiliates into giving information during an interrogation, as well as dissuading the rest of the group from resisting interrogation processes, or further acts against the particular group, from fear of being tortured.

Lets take a quick trip down to the logic station for just a moment. Everybody have their tickets? Great.

The US has used the threat of violence, and actual violence against an entire country (not just its military) for political advancement, purposes and ideologies. Mainly with the propagandist support touting that "Iraq has done us wrong - they wronged us by attacking us on 9/11! Don't forget the religious aspect of the "war on Islamo-fascism" - then engaged in illegal acts of violence, AKA torture of "enemy combatants" for political purposes, terrorism deterrent and intelligence advancement.

This, to me, doesn't sound a whole lot different than terrorism, by its definition, does it?

The reality of it is this, we have acted in the same manner as the terrorists we so explicitly, and unsuccessfully hunted. Whats the difference between a plane hitting a building, and a bomb being dropped on civilians, in a country that had nothing to do with the planes that hit our buildings? Other than who is being killed by the act, nothing is different about it. 9/11 was unexpected - as was "Shock and Awe", by its very name it was a surprise. Both were in retaliation for some perceived attack on culture, religion, government and lifestyle. Both resulted in untold deaths. Yet Americans justify our actions. Only one side has continued on in earnest with the use of violence and threats of violence, torture and other reprehensible actions for political and ideological advancement though. We are still attacking and occupying another country, and are posturing to attack others.

The US has and is still engaging in acts of terrorism. Right under our noses.

I might bring this up here and now, because its good food for thought, but ex-cabinet members are coming forward about the fact that the US planned to attack Iraq before 9/11. Thats right, the twin towers falling was just the catalyst needed to implement the plans our government, and our president had written up just shortly after being inaugurated.



The fact remains, that whether you consider America to be the pot or the kettle, at some point our ass will be on a hot plate for this.