Is the US a terrorist nation?

[msc545]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_wars_involving_the_United_States

[Anonymous]

I would say we are Imperialist in our endeavors to seemingly never leave The Middle East and continuing to endorse the innocent killing of civilians as long as we are promoting the “good guys”, not “bad people”.

Politics is never as clear as “bad” or “good”, and I would think people would see Israeli Leadership response to October Attack as nothing more than barbaric as we now see the American Leadership response to 9/11 towards Iraq.

We aren’t terrorists, though you could argue we are Imperialist.
Especially when we can seemingly never leave The Middle East.

The one idea I can subscribe to is ‘America First’, though we never fully realize what that actually could mean for us to benefit from it rather than a political shield from criticism.
“You can’t be against me politically , if you are… You hate America, why do you hate America?”
I want us to fix broken healthcare system , broken cycle of violence , and broken lobbyist system in this country while others are happy to throw trillions down the drain further to promote foreign wars / interventions / power struggles.
Give me a break.

[OneViewpoint]

We are Capitalist Imperialists. We own our national resources and everyone else's too.

Why? Because we say so. It's Manifest Destiny. American Exceptionalism. Because we have more nukes than you do. And we're better than you. And we desperately want that to be true. Even if we fuck up everything we touch and change our policy after every election.

[Anonymous]

Yes. We manipulate wars for our own profit.

[msc545]

We don't just manipulated wars for our own profit. We also start wars for the profits of the corporations that run this country. Mainly the defense companies. Who are really just the war companies.

[Opinion Owner]

The same people who own corporations own America.
You think Musk is the world's richest man?

[msc545]

I have no real idea, but he probably is not.

[dustybiker2]

One that attacks it's own people. Yes.

[Chazmatazz269]

Not strictly, but it’s absolutely true that the US has funded terrorist organizations in order to destabilize other nations for political and economic takeovers. It’s not even a secret.
Yet somehow US citizens can’t recognize that those exact same tactics are being used on us, on American soil right now. Most likely funded by the exact same people and organizations that previously helped to bring down our foreign enemies.

[andreasderjuengere]

Government sanctioned terrorism -as per definition- cannot be counted as general terrorism.

The U. S. are basically aggressive/violent. In culture and in politics.

I count them as a ''bully nation''

[msc545]

@andreasderjuengere As per what definition? If that is true, then I guess the Iranians also cannot be terrorists as the US government keeps claiming, right?

[andreasderjuengere]

The definitions of those in power make the rules. Therefore, own activities never can be 'terrorism', but rather will be sold as 'patriotism', 'freedom-policing', 'preventive action' and such.
Put on a uniform, and you're the good guy.
Iran can not be a terrorist organisation in my eyes. Only because some propagandists say so, does not make it true.

[msc545]

So - the definitions of the terrorists themselves are the prevailing definitions according to you?

[andreasderjuengere]

I only say that if you are a government's murderer, or a 'freelancer' - it makes no difference.
The refusal to label state violence as terrorism reflects the monopoly on legitimacy.
The term "terrorism" has become a tool of propaganda, applied selectively, depending on who is doing the killing.

[msc545]

I agree only with your first sentence. While governments may refuse to label their own acts of violence as terrorism, I, along with their victims and unwilling participants, do not share that perspective.

Calling other states "terrorists" does not exempt those who employ that label from being subjected to the same designation. The selective use of the term "terrorism" is indeed a form of propaganda; however, it does not change the actual definition of the term:

"Terrorism is the use of violence and intimidation, often against civilians, to achieve political or ideological goals. It's characterized by the deliberate targeting of non-combatants to create fear and exert pressure on governments or populations."

This definition clearly applies to both the US and Israel.

[andreasderjuengere]

Yes, my wording is/was a little unclear. Instead of ''definition'' I should better have used ''interpretation''.

[msc545]

Yes, and of course, the interpretation is the province of both the speaker and listener, yet we also have a hopefully standard definition of it as well, correct?

[NathanDavis]

no... because the USA is the one that makes the definitions...

the USA is an interventionist country, though...

[msc545]

@ nathandavis So the US is somehow exempt from its own definitions?

[NathanDavis]

yes... that's how the USA does it

rules and definitions apply to others but not itself

that's the privilege of being "number one"

[msc545]

This highlights the hypocrisy of denial. If the U. S. were truly "number one"—whatever that means—it would acknowledge its own mistakes and acts of cruelty. It would take steps to address these issues and prevent them from happening again, rather than repeating the same mistakes with negative consequences as it has done for the past 250 years.

[NathanDavis]

idealist USA is for the USA people...

reality out there is different, that's why USA throws a lot of realism around the world...

[NathanDavis]

I mean, don't get me wrong...

I don't condone it, I don't like it... but although, I was just four to six, to eight years old...

it was something I learned and witnessed since very very young, that's just the reality of how things are

[msc545]

The US is a giant rigged casino in which a few people win heavily and the rest stay poor. We cannot change or escape this place because we do not have and cannot get the resources to do so.

[NathanDavis]

we don't change it because we conform to our comfort...

you and me, both

we are far from poor and very much privileged... and not just us, millions of Americans as well

[msc545]

That we are.

[ProbablyClueless]

Oh yes. We've been terrorists since the mid 1800s when we started fighting regime change wars in SE Asia.

[msc545]

Let's also remember the "banana wars" in South America 1898 - 1934 I believe...

[ProbablyClueless]

Ahhh bananas… I think you mean “Freedom Fruit?”

[msc545]

LOL !

[msc545]

oh.. yes.. also "Patriot Pears" I believe. LOL

[ProbablyClueless]

Oh man! I can just imagine Hulk Hogan doing an ad read for Patriot Pears 😂😂

[msc545]

How about the Founding Fruits?

[Subtle_Luminescence]

It certainly is. Won't say this for all the citizens of the US but its army and politicians, yes.

[Berethor]

Fighting a war don't makes you a terrorist, the US was fighting an islamic terrorists.

https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/attacks/attacks.aspx?Yr=Last30

[msc545]

@berethor What is it that you think makes a person or a country a terrorist?

[Berethor]

@msc545 attacking civilians on purpose tend to count as a terrorism, US don't do that.

www.thereligionofpeace.com/.../...me-of-allah.aspx

[msc545]

Yes, odd how all Vietnamese and Afghan and Iranian and Japanese and Libyan and Iraqi civilians somehow got magically dead...

[Berethor]

The muslim civilians died as part of collateral damage of fighting in cities, that's why I said on purpose, US was not exterminating the muslim population. The nukes on japan targeted japanese civilians on purpose, but it was a long time ago, UN barely exited then.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collateral_damage

[msc545]

I see. So dropping bombs and using missiles and napalm on areas occupied by civilians is just an "accident" ?

[Berethor]

When the target is combatants who hide among the civilians it's collateral damage.

[msc545]

That is an excuse often used by people like the Israelis who drop high explosives on virtually *everyone*, then allege without proof that Hamas or whoever were hiding in the crowd. Same thing the US did in Iraaq, Vietnam, and Afghanistan - again with no proof of any sort.

[Sevenpointfive]

it's.. it... ne Just coming in from our correspondents.

[Anonymous]

By looking at the list above, it's easy to conclude that.

[AngryCarl2]

I prefer the term "rogue state". Even now I don't think the US is a nation of terrorists.

[Kelley1]

Clearly the US is the #1 terrorist nation.

[beefcakebradybatson]

It certainly is now.

[DrPepper12]

Yes. Next question

[TadBehaya]

OMG yes!

[Sal_Monella]

It is a counter-terrorist nation.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes. That and the world's ATM.

[Anonymous]

Not since the Democrats left office

[exitseven]

No, the US is the cure for terrorism.

[msc545]

LOL - the US is the foremost terrorist on this planet.

[exitseven]

We are having an increase in terrorism but President Trump is deporting the terrorists and the citizens will be arrested and put in prison.

[msc545]

What increase in terrorism? Do you just make this shit up or what?

[dustybiker2]

@exitseven What the fuck are you smoking man?

[exitseven]

We have cars burning in the streets. Federal agents being ambushed, terrorists trying to break into federal facilities. Biological warfare.

[msc545]

Provide some evidence. You're just saying it means nothing.

[exitseven]

@msc545 These terrorists caused 150 million dollars in property damage.
www.washingtonpost.com/.../
DHS is now cracking down on them and there has been arrests and there will be convictions and jail sentences.

[msc545]

Yeah big deal. A couple of burglaries and a car fire. Even that is your definition of terrorism. Then there are severe budget. Overruns in counter-terrorist activities.

[exitseven]

150 million is not a few burglaries. I bet you live in some cushy suburb where there are plenty of cops and maybe you live behind a wall. It they ever came and burned down your house I bet you would change your attitude

[msc545]

Yu think there were 150 million burglaries?