I would like to hear your thoughts on this subject. Do they? Or is it something that is just unfathomable? And please I want your true opinion. All you "patriots" out there who sleep with the flag and are devoid of reason please we can do without.
Well to answer my own and your question , Yes i do think they do. Look up "Gulf of Tonkin"and the "U.S.S. Liberty". 2 prime examples of US sponsored terrorism. The CIA calls it a "false flag" operation. A staged event that is created to gain support to a war. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if 911 was the same.
Joined Jul 2008
5,397 Posts | 1+
Sharkland
Yes.
We've had discussions on this before. According to different US government definitions of terror, we can characterize even things like the American revolution as American terrorism.
Throw in Operation condor, Chile, Iran contra and more and you've got consistent use of terrorism by the US according to their own defintions.
Not only do we and have we sponsored terror, we have, on many occasions, fought and worked against democracy and instead favored dictators.
It is pretty clear that many of our actions have been acts of terrorism, and many anti-democratic.
It's a sobering lesson for many Americans that we act in our own interest, rather than their idealistic notion that we always do the just thing, or the democratic thing, in the right way.
We've had discussions on this before. According to different US government definitions of terror, we can characterize even things like the American revolution as American terrorism.
Throw in Operation condor, Chile, Iran contra and more and you've got consistent use of terrorism by the US according to their own defintions.
Not only do we and have we sponsored terror, we have, on many occasions, fought and worked against democracy and instead favored dictators.
It is pretty clear that many of our actions have been acts of terrorism, and many anti-democratic.
It's a sobering lesson for many Americans that we act in our own interest, rather than their idealistic notion that we always do the just thing, or the democratic thing, in the right way.
Joined Apr 2008
7,924 Posts | 29+
Hyperborea
More examples would be Iran, Cambodia and East Timur.
However this answers the question "did", I think every country on earth has supported terrorism at sometime in its history.
The question at hand is "does" is a little more difficult.
Blackwater certainly behave like terrorists, the USAF plants bombs so could be considered terrorists.
Yes I agree. All governments have sponsored terrorism in some shape or form. My problem is the way the word TERRORISM is being used as a weapon these days. The USA and European Union are using it as a blanket statement for any dissidence. Its quite frightening actually. They are implementing a police state in the name of terrorism. I am glad however that there are people out there who can see through the static, look at the facts and quit being a victim of their own cognizant dissidence.
Joined Jul 2008
5,397 Posts | 1+
Sharkland
Joined Jul 2008
65 Posts | 0+
ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY
I believe we do have a history of supporting things that could be considered terrorism both in the traditional sense and in a broader sense.
How many government were undermined in Central/South America resulting in wars, and often times death squads trained by the US?
How many dictators have we set up to combat communism? The Iranians sure didn't like it much.
How many arms deals with questionable people have we done? We gave Saddam chemical weapons when he fought Iran. We dealt weaponry and loaned money to both sides in World War 1 until Germany decided enough was enough and started torpedoing ships.
We nearly killed the Native Americans off.
We funded, trained, and supplied Al Qaeda when they were fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan. Oops.
We never were the good guys, ever. Knowing our history doesn't mean I hate my country, it just means I want to see us live up to our own ideals rather than settling for less.
How many government were undermined in Central/South America resulting in wars, and often times death squads trained by the US?
How many dictators have we set up to combat communism? The Iranians sure didn't like it much.
How many arms deals with questionable people have we done? We gave Saddam chemical weapons when he fought Iran. We dealt weaponry and loaned money to both sides in World War 1 until Germany decided enough was enough and started torpedoing ships.
We nearly killed the Native Americans off.
We funded, trained, and supplied Al Qaeda when they were fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan. Oops.
We never were the good guys, ever. Knowing our history doesn't mean I hate my country, it just means I want to see us live up to our own ideals rather than settling for less.
Nice post. All true unfortunately and all those things are continuing today as well. Terrorist is just a word that is used for anyone who questions the authority of government. Look at the patriot act.
Joined Jul 2008
196 Posts | 0+
When you say Al-Qaeda i think this is false. They were Mujahideen America trained, Islamic freedom fighters. They transferred to Al-qaeda and adopted a very anti-American Ideology long after they had been trained.
Central South American countries flood America with drugs that are killing American Youth. Why did they not deserve to be attacked? As for death squads, what death squad was trained by the US?
How many governments were supplied by the Communists that commited absolutely horrific crimes against humanity? America supplied nations that loved freedom and democracy, the Communists would often supply minorities and cause absolute carnage.
WW1 was a pretty bad time for the US. America didnt really have a strong army and WW1 was really the last of the European wars. I can understand why the declaration of War was slow by America, the American masses wanted not much to do with Europe let alone her Imperialist feudal wars. So loaning of money was an attempt to make a profit, but as you said Germany got over it pretty quick.
America has always been the good guys. Done some bloody stupid things, and made mistakes, but Americas intention was right which is less than can be said about the Imperialists of Europe.
Central South American countries flood America with drugs that are killing American Youth. Why did they not deserve to be attacked? As for death squads, what death squad was trained by the US?
How many governments were supplied by the Communists that commited absolutely horrific crimes against humanity? America supplied nations that loved freedom and democracy, the Communists would often supply minorities and cause absolute carnage.
WW1 was a pretty bad time for the US. America didnt really have a strong army and WW1 was really the last of the European wars. I can understand why the declaration of War was slow by America, the American masses wanted not much to do with Europe let alone her Imperialist feudal wars. So loaning of money was an attempt to make a profit, but as you said Germany got over it pretty quick.
America has always been the good guys. Done some bloody stupid things, and made mistakes, but Americas intention was right which is less than can be said about the Imperialists of Europe.
Joined Jun 2008
1,240 Posts | 8+
United Kingdom
Joined Oct 2007
366 Posts | 0+
Southern Vermont
Joined Jul 2008
196 Posts | 0+
Well Iran was attacking oil tankers belonging to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Iraq responded by attacking Iranian tankers and tankers that traded with Iran, Iranian oil merchants etc.
Iran was/is very anti western and alluded to the fact dozens of times. Iraq saw an oppertunity and went for it. I am under the impression they were supported by most of the middle east, correct me if im wrong?
Taliban and the Northern Alliance... Please explain, i was under the impression that the Northern Alliance (Warlords) were far less brutal than the Taliban.
Iran was/is very anti western and alluded to the fact dozens of times. Iraq saw an oppertunity and went for it. I am under the impression they were supported by most of the middle east, correct me if im wrong?
Taliban and the Northern Alliance... Please explain, i was under the impression that the Northern Alliance (Warlords) were far less brutal than the Taliban.
Joined Jul 2006
613 Posts | 4+
Virginia
The United States does indeed sponsor terrorism. They have for a number of years sponsored an organization known to many only as the IRS, which every April drives millions into a state of madness with mountains of paperwork and confusing forms which they demand be filled out so that they may determine their rightful tribute each year. It is widely believed the Federal government receives a substantial amount of money from this organization and therefore allows it's activities to go unchecked.
Joined Jul 2008
5,397 Posts | 1+
Sharkland
We've supported dictators when it suited our cause. Just take a look at our friendly relationship with dictators in South America and even our willingness to support terrorism (see Chile) to subvert democracy as long as it was in our interest.
Tell me you know something about Operation Condor and if you can still make that same statement I will be knocked off my chair in amazement.
Joined Jun 2008
1,240 Posts | 8+
United Kingdom
Different century, different issue.
Anyway, in relation to why America backed certain regimes is not anything to do with furthering democracy or creating rainbows or chocolate rivers... It was basically collecting pawns for the grand USA v. USSR chess match. The USA backed some terrible regimes, and why? Because the USSR backed the other regime. Doesn't matter who it was, if the USSR backed a rival regime, the USA would back that other regime. America's intention was to beat the USSR, which is an understandable end. But the means were far from good, so I would contest your views. You seem withdrawn from realism in this area. The USA was not the "good guy", she was just a "guy", doing bad things for justifiable reasons - as we all do.
More History Discussions
- Locked
Trending History Discussions
-
The Great Captains of History - How Many Battles? - Version 7- Started by DiocletianIsBetterThanYou
- Replies: 861
-
-
The Great Captains of History - How Many Battles? - Version 5
- Started by DiocletianIsBetterThanYou
- Replies: 3K
-
The Diversity Of Early African Architecture/Ruins Thread- Started by Kilwa Sultanate
- Replies: 2K
-