Has the US ever engaged in "terrorism"?

Question

Has the US ever engaged in "terrorism"?

Answer 1

Well, the US may currently be involved in terrorist strikes against Iran... it's been confirmed that we have special forces operating inside Iran and there have been reports that the CIA has been using Wahhabists in terror attacks on Iranian soil... of course no US officials have admitted or confirmed this, but would you?



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4180087.stm

http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0805176169160723.htm



Iran seems to hold the US responsible for attacks on some diplomats at Baghdad's Iranian embassy, back in May, and I am not willing to discount this as a very real possibility. Here's why...



In the last 5 decades or so, US Gov't has installed and propped up brutal dictators, started (and stopped) revolutions in third-world countries, staged events (like the Gulf of Tonkin) as an excuse to go to war, they have tested chemicals on foreign and domestic populations without their consent (MKULTRA), toppled economies, assassinated political leaders, armed Saddam Hussein with WMD to use against Iran, militarized the Taliban and created Al-Qaeda for the Afghan war with the USSR... does any of this qualify as "engaging in terrorism?" I don't know.



Also, this wasn't really the US, but there were two British SAS men who were caught dressed like arabs running around Iraq pretending to be Al-Qaeda, shooting at coalition forces and Iraqi policemen. Remember that?

http://www.theinsider.org/news/article.asp?id=1556



Psycho Magnet pointed out GLADIO, which was an ongoing intelligence op specifically dedicated to staging false-flag bombings and "terror attacks" throughout Europe, from the 1950's up to at least the 1980's. That was not an exclusively US operation, but the CIA was certainly involved. That's declassified.



And Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, those guys are brutal. I won't even go into that. Just know that the CIA is, as you say, very tight with Mossad.



And remember, all this is only what we know about. It's been said that a truly successful black op will never come to public light.



Given our recent history, I'd say the US gov't is capable of just about anything.

Answer 2

When you say the US, I presume that you are referring to some of our politicians. It is a shame that politicians are able to hide behind labels like "the government". We need to flush them out, shine a spotlight on them, and expose their activities.



What is terrorism? Terrorism is the use of force to compel an individual to commit an act, or refrain from committing an act, that is not illegal. Terrorism is a form of intimidation. Have our politicians ever used this?



What do you call the Elian Gonzalez kidnapping? What would you call thugs who stick a sub machinegun in the face of kid? Does that qualify as terrorism?



Let me explain the difference between law inforcement and terrorism, lest someone think that the Gestapo, or the KGB can be considered "law enforcement" organizations. Law enforcement utilizes only the force necessary. Terrorism attempt to intimidate, the message is "submit or die".



It's sort of like approaching someone who owes you $5. You can ask the individual for the money he owes you, or you can pistol-whip him, and then threaten to shoot him, unless he pays you the money he owes you. It's all about acting in a reasonable manner.



In my early days, I was involved with Auxiliary Police. I took part in a raid. The Chief knocked on the door, and presented the warrant. We walked in, and proceeded to serve the warrant. Nobody was threatened with pistols or shotguns. Nobody was roughed up. There was no need.



Today, with the militarization of law enforcement, and the proliferation of SWAT teams, it's easier to kick in a door-or drive a tank through it.



WACO is a prefect example. The warrant could have been served in the proper manner, and nobody would have died. Cowards are unwilling to do this. They prefer to utilize the maximum amount of force, and assume that their target will meakly submit. Occasionally, this blows up their face, as in the WACO fiasco.

Answer 3

Oh god yes.



The Cuban Conflict was filled with covert operations that would be viewed as "terrorism activities" by Cuba. The CIA was funding and training opposition groups (Bay of Pigs) and carried out bombings and other activities hoping to stir a revolt against Castro. "Operation Mongoose" was an aggressive set of plans set up by the Kennedy administration with the sole purpose of removing Castro from power. "Operation Northwoods" which is the highly criticized declassified documents that detail out concepts where the US would stage terrorism on US soil and blame it on Cuba (to build public support for a war) also came out of Mongoose. While Northwoods was never used, Mongoose plans involved various "strategic and covert" bombings done by the CIA as well as assasination attempts.



"Operation Gladio" was a US-run NATO "stay behind" operation after WWII (Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey and West Germany) and was defined as a "strategy of tension" (which meant terrorist acts) to keep the right-wing in power.



Gladio agent Vincenzo Vinciguerra stated, in sworn testimony: 'You had to attack civilians, the people, women, children, innocent people, unknown people far removed from any political game. The reason was quite simple: to force ... the public to turn to the state to ask for greater security."



Parliamentary investigations in Italy, Switzerland and Belgium have linked the CIA to operations of Gladio even though the US has denied any involvement.



Gladio is responsible for numerous bombings, kidnapping attempts, etc. in those regions. Most famously would be the Bologna Railway bombing in 1980. Once again, links to the US CIA were discovered while investigating this act of terrorism.



In the Middle East the CIA did the same thing - funding opposition groups (against Iran, Egypt and eventually Iraq) and even planning and arming these groups. This doesn't even factor in the chemicals we sold Iraq to use against Iranians or Kurds.



By the very definition of our own "War on Terror", we've been guilty of crimes since the 1960's on -- if not earlier.



So yes, the US has (in my opinion) participated in acts of terrorism and I think that plays a big role in how we're viewed in the Middle East right now.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Webster defines terrorism as a use of force and threats to terrorize or intimidate. So yes, America could be known for engaging in terrorism, when we imposed slavery, and when we interred 1000's of Japanese people after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. And what of our treatment of the Native Americans. We burned them out of their homes, and forced them into blizzard conditions to starve. These are just three examples that readily come to my mind. I also believe that when we trade with any country who terrorizes it's people, we are just as guilty of that terrorism. America is a great country, but it hasn't become so, without a bloody price.

Answer 6

Yep, the U.S. has done a lot of terrorism and germ warfare in the past. Remember the small pox infected blankets given as a present to Native Americans? Remember the exportation of slaves? Remember Billy the Kid's "Long Walk?" Remember the "Trail of Tears?" Remember the incarceration of all Japanese during WWII?



American history isn't all rosey and lovingly Christian as supposed.

Answer 7

You'd need a very long list actually, here's the latest one anyway:



http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080629/tpl-uk-bush-iran-report-81f3b62.html



"Among groups inside Iran benefiting from U.S. support is the Jundallah... Council on Foreign Relations analyst Vali Nasr described it to Hersh as a vicious organization suspected of links to al Qaeda."



This is a real sickener for anyone who supports the USA as a bastion of democracy - in fact if you want the whole sordid story post WW2 try a book by ex-State Department man William Blum, Rogue State. You'd probably expect a diatribe, but it's actually a list, meticulously cross referenced to official sources, mostly American - read it and judge for yourself.



Meanwhile try googling "School of the Americas" - prepare to be horrified by what you find. Post-911 'Operation Gladio' is also worth a google...

Answer 8

One man's "support of terrorism" is another man's "Covert Operation." In that respect, yes, the U.S. has been indirectly involved in much terrorism. However, to be fair, one must also look at the motivation behind the action; one is working toward freedom and democracy, the other toward oppression and tyranny.

Answer 9

One of our country's greatest acts of terrorism was against the innocent law abiding members of the Branch Davidian religion.

After the massacre was complete President Clinton warned that that should be a lesson to every American who seeks to join any religious commune.

Answer 10

The attack on the USS Liberty.



Operation Northwoods.



Oklahoma City - Murrah Building.



The CIA funded and trained Al-Qeada ... does that count?



The lack of investigation into 9/11 including the 24/7 clean up of the crime scene makes me believe they are hiding something.



...so you can throw 9/11 in the mix too being they haven't shown the willingness to work WITH 'we the people' on the investigation and defend their innocence. Instead they throw name-calling around as a response. Any 2-year-old can tell you that in itself admits guilt.



EDIT: Great article 'The Violator' ... I like how we are admittedly relying on "intelligence" from the Council on Foreign Relations to dictate our foreign terrorist acts...i mean foreign policy.

Answer 11

A lttle tea party in Boston.....the whole "Revolution" thing....we've toppled governments, killed or imprisoned people we don't like.....dropped lots of bombs on people....it depends on your definition of terrorism........oh, and we armed and trained the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan to fight the Russians.....who are they fighting now?....they have a different name now......can't quite remember......

Answer 12

Who do you think propped up the mujahideen in their fight against the Soviets in the 1980s? The CIA financed, armed, and trained them to be "insurgents" against the USSR forces. Sound like anything you hear about in the news today?

Answer 13

Here is our most recent on at Abu Ghraib. Most Americans refuse to believe that we do this. Also, don't forget the Iran Contra Scandal as well.

Answer 14

considering what Iraq really did and what we did to them, can you call that invasion anything other than terrorism?

Answer 15

Abu Graib. Guantanamo Bay. Transporting slaves. Supporting repressive regimes around the world.

need more?

Answer 16

To numerous to list. Read Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the American Empire" for starters.

Answer 17

I suppose you could say domestic terrorism like Oklahoma City.

Answer 18

The only way you will relate the US to terrorism, is if you take various weapons shipments that have been hijacked due to poor intel and used for such petty terrorist attacks they wouldn't warrant a viewing on the country's local 5o'clock news.

Answer 19

Yes, against Great Britain about 232 years ago.

Answer 20

Guys and Girls.



Stop with the hating. Use this little test to see what countries are right and which are wrong.



test 1: ask yourself - What countries are people trying to get into and which are people trying to get out of ? Doesn't that tell you anything.



test 2: If the Palestinians, the Syrians and Iranians and the rest of the Persian/Arab Jew haters put down all their guns, do you think Israel would attack and kill them all ? Next, if Israel put down all their weapons, what do you think the Arabs would do ?

Answer 21

NO