A lot of heated rhetoric surrounding the Austin bomber--who thankfully won't be hurting anyone anymore--and whether or not he was a terrorist.
I teach classes on terrorism, and here's a thread why it's unclear (based on what we know now) and why the classification matters.
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I teach classes on terrorism, and here's a thread why it's unclear (based on what we know now) and why the classification matters.
1/x
Terrorism is political.
Criminal violence is personal, motivated by profit, revenge, enjoyment, etc. The motives of gangsters, conventional murderers, serial killers.
Terrorists, by contrast, believe themselves to be altruists, aiming to improve society or defend their people
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Criminal violence is personal, motivated by profit, revenge, enjoyment, etc. The motives of gangsters, conventional murderers, serial killers.
Terrorists, by contrast, believe themselves to be altruists, aiming to improve society or defend their people
2/x
For example, Charleston church shooting was terrorism. As seen in videos the killer posted online, he believes white people are under siege and targeted a historically black church hoping to get others to "wake up" and join him in a race war.
He was trying to send a message.
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He was trying to send a message.
3/x
By contrast, the Parkland school shooting wasn't terrorism. The killer's motivation wasn't political.
This political/not political distinction matters because it helps us understand what happened and develop strategies to prevent it.
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This political/not political distinction matters because it helps us understand what happened and develop strategies to prevent it.
4/x
Based on what we know, the Austin bomber could've been a terrorist like the Unabomber (who wrote a manifesto about societal dependence on technology) or a serial killer like Ted Bundy or the Zodiac killer (who didn't have political motivations) albeit one who preferred bombs.
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5/x
That being said, I share the criticisms many have against Trump and his spokespeople who insist the Austin bombings have no connection to terrorism.
We've seen them jump to that conclusion with nonwhite killers (especially Muslims), and they likely would've done so here.
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We've seen them jump to that conclusion with nonwhite killers (especially Muslims), and they likely would've done so here.
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The evidence is clear: America has a problem with white nationalist terrorism.
As @peterwsinger has pointed out, more Americans were killed in the last decade by white nationalist terrorism than Islamic terrorism.
Past time we took it seriously as a national security problem.
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As @peterwsinger has pointed out, more Americans were killed in the last decade by white nationalist terrorism than Islamic terrorism.
Past time we took it seriously as a national security problem.
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Trump has directed national counterterrorism resources away from white nationalism and focused them entirely on jihadism. He has downplayed or ignored the former while playing up the latter.
But both threaten Americans, and both deserve counterterrorism attention.
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But both threaten Americans, and both deserve counterterrorism attention.
8/x
The Austin bomber was a young white man and the two people he killed were both black, suggesting it may have been racially-motivated terrorism.
Perhaps he was part of the white nationalist movement.
But we do not have sufficient evidence yet to reach that conclusion.
9/x
Perhaps he was part of the white nationalist movement.
But we do not have sufficient evidence yet to reach that conclusion.
9/x
Just because other people misuse the word terrorist to fearmonger with the worst form of identity politics doesn't mean you should too.
Even (especially) if the person misusing the word is the president of the United States.
(END)
Even (especially) if the person misusing the word is the president of the United States.
(END)
UPDATE: Police say the Austin bomber left a 25-minute video confession on his cell phone. Describes bombs' construction in detail, but they still don't know his motive.
That indicates it's probably not terrorism. If he was trying to make a political point, he'd do it there.
u1/x
That indicates it's probably not terrorism. If he was trying to make a political point, he'd do it there.
u1/x
Charleston church shooter described hoping to ignite race war in online videos.
San Bernardino attackers pledged allegiance to ISIS on Facebook.
Bin Laden formally declared war.
McVeigh wrote letters.
Because their attack is political, terrorists want people to know why.
u2/x
San Bernardino attackers pledged allegiance to ISIS on Facebook.
Bin Laden formally declared war.
McVeigh wrote letters.
Because their attack is political, terrorists want people to know why.
u2/x
Austin bomber took the time to make a 25-minute video, but didn't include a political statement.
When it comes to political views, we know little. Reports say he wrote a blog post in 2012 opposing gay marriage and abortion. That tells us nothing about why he sent the bombs.
u3/x
When it comes to political views, we know little. Reports say he wrote a blog post in 2012 opposing gay marriage and abortion. That tells us nothing about why he sent the bombs.
u3/x
More could emerge. But based on what we know now, Austin bomber was a serial killer, not a terrorist.
The distinction matters because strategies to stop them are different. Politics plays a role in terrorism, which means it is, in part, a political/national security problem.
u4/x
The distinction matters because strategies to stop them are different. Politics plays a role in terrorism, which means it is, in part, a political/national security problem.
u4/x
If you're pointing out that many, including Trump, would jump to conclusions and incorrectly label the Austin bomber a terrorist if he were Muslim, you're right.
And that's a problem.
But the solution isn't incorrectly labeling him a terrorist because he's not Muslim
(END UPDATE)
And that's a problem.
But the solution isn't incorrectly labeling him a terrorist because he's not Muslim
(END UPDATE)
