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Thread: From the partisan to the ‘global’ terrorist

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    From the partisan to the ‘global’ terrorist

    http://www.alaindebenoist.com/pdf/ca..._terrorism.pdf

    I just started reading this recently. It's some of Alain de Benoist's work. He is one of my favorite members of what is called the "New Right".

    ----

    Snip

    Today, terrorism is obviously no longer a new phenomenon. However, what is new is the central
    place it now occupies (or which it has been accorded) on the international scene. But here, weare struck by the contrast between the omnipresence of the denunciation of ‘terrorism’, and thesemantic haze which is attached to the concept, a haze which allows for different interpretationsof the word. One of the main problems concerns, of course, the legitimacy of terrorist action, alegitimacy that terrorists affirm constantly, but which is strongly denied them by theiradversaries. Actually, the problematic of the classic partisan raises already issues related to thepair legality-legitimacy. Because he is an illegal fighter, the partisan can only claim to have asuperior legitimacy than the positive law upheld by the authority he is fighting, which illustratesthat legality and legitimacy are not identical and, therefore, should not be confused. This is
    another Schmittian thematic par excellence (Schmitt 1932/2004b).


    It is undeniable that certain forms of ‘terrorism’ have been recognized as legitimate in the recentpast, firstly in World War II, during which the members of the Resistance were invariablydenounced as ‘terrorists’ by the German occupying forces, and then, at the time ofdecolonization, when many terrorist groups presented themselves as ‘freedom fighters’ hoping towrest independence from their colonial powers through armed uprisings. After 1945,innumerable armed minorities, liberation movements or guerillas all presented themselveseffectively as resistance organizations confronting state systems that condemned them as‘subversive’ groups and ‘terrorists’. When their struggles ended and they obtained internationalrecognition, the methods that they had used seemed to be retrospectively justified. This lends
    credit to the idea that in certain cases, terrorism can be legitimate. Of course, it is often said that
    terrorism can never be justified in situations or countries where social and political claims can be
    expressed otherwise. However, opinions have remained divided as to what constitutes ‘good’ and‘evil’ terrorism and, to a certain degree, the assessment about its moral or immoral character has
    been, de facto, left to propaganda or plain subjectivity.
    Whoever criticizes capitalism, while approving immigration, whose working class is its first victim, had better shut up. Whoever criticizes immigration, while remaining silent about capitalism, should do the same.


    ~Alain de Benoist


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    Another example would be the bushwhackers during the Civil War.
    my junk is ugly

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    Quote Originally Posted by Captain Obvious View Post
    Another example would be the bushwhackers during the Civil War.
    True.
    Whoever criticizes capitalism, while approving immigration, whose working class is its first victim, had better shut up. Whoever criticizes immigration, while remaining silent about capitalism, should do the same.


    ~Alain de Benoist


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    Quote Originally Posted by Mister D View Post
    http://www.alaindebenoist.com/pdf/ca..._terrorism.pdf

    I just started reading this recently. It's some of Alain de Benoist's work. He is one of my favorite members of what is called the "New Right".

    ----

    Snip

    Today, terrorism is obviously no longer a new phenomenon. However, what is new is the central
    place it now occupies (or which it has been accorded) on the international scene. But here, weare struck by the contrast between the omnipresence of the denunciation of ‘terrorism’, and thesemantic haze which is attached to the concept, a haze which allows for different interpretationsof the word. One of the main problems concerns, of course, the legitimacy of terrorist action, alegitimacy that terrorists affirm constantly, but which is strongly denied them by theiradversaries. Actually, the problematic of the classic partisan raises already issues related to thepair legality-legitimacy. Because he is an illegal fighter, the partisan can only claim to have asuperior legitimacy than the positive law upheld by the authority he is fighting, which illustratesthat legality and legitimacy are not identical and, therefore, should not be confused. This is
    another Schmittian thematic par excellence (Schmitt 1932/2004b).


    It is undeniable that certain forms of ‘terrorism’ have been recognized as legitimate in the recentpast, firstly in World War II, during which the members of the Resistance were invariablydenounced as ‘terrorists’ by the German occupying forces, and then, at the time ofdecolonization, when many terrorist groups presented themselves as ‘freedom fighters’ hoping towrest independence from their colonial powers through armed uprisings. After 1945,innumerable armed minorities, liberation movements or guerillas all presented themselveseffectively as resistance organizations confronting state systems that condemned them as‘subversive’ groups and ‘terrorists’. When their struggles ended and they obtained internationalrecognition, the methods that they had used seemed to be retrospectively justified. This lends
    credit to the idea that in certain cases, terrorism can be legitimate. Of course, it is often said that
    terrorism can never be justified in situations or countries where social and political claims can be
    expressed otherwise. However, opinions have remained divided as to what constitutes ‘good’ and‘evil’ terrorism and, to a certain degree, the assessment about its moral or immoral character has
    been, de facto, left to propaganda or plain subjectivity.


    I have seen these comparisons before. What strikes me about the difference in today's terrorism is the involvement of innocents, civilians, women and children.

    I do not recall ever reading about any resistance movement, and I have studied a lot of it about Poland, where "resistance" fighters attacked and killed or took hostage civilians.

    For me that is what separates terrorism from freedom fighting. Whether it be the Entebe hostage affair, the Twin Towers attack or subway bombings in Europe.

    Having said that, the US was dead wrong in terming the attack on the USS Cole as terrorism just as the administration was dead wrong in insisting for two weeks the Benghazi attack was a "spontaneous demonstration".

    Now, here is a question. Is Gitmo terrorism? The people being held there have never been charged nor convicted of anything so, technically are they not hostages?


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    Quote Originally Posted by Fearandloathing View Post
    I have seen these comparisons before. What strikes me about the difference in today's terrorism is the involvement of innocents, civilians, women and children.

    I do not recall ever reading about any resistance movement, and I have studied a lot of it about Poland, where "resistance" fighters attacked and killed or took hostage civilians.

    For me that is what separates terrorism from freedom fighting. Whether it be the Entebe hostage affair, the Twin Towers attack or subway bombings in Europe.

    Having said that, the US was dead wrong in terming the attack on the USS Cole as terrorism just as the administration was dead wrong in insisting for two weeks the Benghazi attack was a "spontaneous demonstration".

    Now, here is a question. Is Gitmo terrorism? The people being held there have never been charged nor convicted of anything so, technically are they not hostages?
    Now, here is a question. Is Gitmo terrorism? The people being held there have never been charged nor convicted of anything so, technically are they not hostages?
    No, GITMO is not "terrorism." GITMO suffers from an inconsistent policy. Under international law, enemy combatants can be held for the duration of the war. It isn't a question of criminal behavior- combatants have "combatant immunity" so long as they follow the laws of land warfare. So an infantry soldier can kill 100 enemy soldiers, get captured, and not be guilty of anything so long as he adhered to the laws of land warfare. He can be held until peace is made, or until a prisoner swap is arraigned.

    The problem in the US with GITMO was policy crap. Under current international law of war there are only two types of people: combatants and civilians. We didn't want to call al Qaeda terrorists either one of those. This is where you get the problems that you identify. IMO, since international law is always evolving we should have pushed for a new third category- unlawful enemy combatant. Bush started to use the term, but when someone told him the term doesn't exist in international law he stopped using it. Big mistake. It got so bad that we couldn't even use "Article V Tribunals" with captured enemy to determine their status. Then they brought them back, but told us that we couldn't use the term Article V tribunals.... It was a case of serious dumb-ass. Another technical problem with GITMO. Under established laws of war, GITMO should have been set up in the theater of combat. I guess if we consider the "War of Terror" to be global, we could argue the GITMO is fine where it is.....

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