@box text intr = Confused? Having difficulty telling the good guys from the bad guys? Use this handy guide to discern differences between terrorists and the US government:
Terrorists: Supposed leader is the spoiled son of a powerful politician, from extremely wealthy oil family.
US government: Supposed leader is the spoiled son of a powerful politician, from extremely wealthy oil family.
Terrorists: Leader has declared a holy war (jihad) against his "enemies"; believes any nation not with him is against him; believes God is on his side, and that any means are justified.
US government: Leader has declared a holy war (crusade) against his "enemies"; believes any nation not with him is against him; believes God is on his side, and that any means are justified.
Terrorists: Supported by extreme fundamentalist religious leaders who preach hatred, intolerance, subjugation of women, and persecution of non-believers.
US government: Supported by extreme fundamentalist religious leaders who preach hatred, intolerance, subjugation of women, and persecution of non-believers.
Terrorists: Leadership was not elected by a majority of the people in a free and fair democratic election.
US government: Leadership was not elected by a majority of the people in a free and fair democratic election.
Terrorists: Kills thousands of innocent civilians, some of them children, in cold blooded bombings.
US government: Kills (tens of) thousands of innocent civilians, some of them children, in cold blooded bombings.
Terrorists: Operates through clandestine organisation (al Qaeda) with agents in many countries; uses bombing, assassination, other terrorist tactics.
US government: Operates through clandestine organisation (CIA) with agents in many countries; uses bombing, assassination, other terrorist tactics.
Terrorists: Using war as pretext to clamp down on dissent and undermine civil liberties.
US government: Using war as pretext to clamp down on dissent and undermine civil liberties.
Terrorists: Willing to kill large numbers of American civilians to attain their political goals.
US government: Willing to kill large numbers of non-American civilians to attain its political goals.
Terrorists: Combatant force numbers in the hundreds if not thousands. Weapon of choice: a three-dollar box cutter.
US government: Combatant force numbers in the millions. Weapon of choice: a billion-dollar B1 bomber.
From Green Left Weekly, November 7, 2001.
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