Really stupid remarks about terrorism

So, as I was leaving on Friday, this story was breaking:

Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar, 22, deliberately drove a rented Jeep Cherokee into the Pit area outside the Student Union, hitting nine people just before noon, police say. Six people suffered minor injuries; three others declined to be treated.

He’s mad at America. He’s mad at this cartoon. Whatever. He said he wanted to kill people, that he was trying to kill people and that had he done the job right, he would have killed people.

‘Zat about the gist of it?

Now, seems to me, when someone wants to kill random innocent people to make some sort of point, that’s TERRORISM. Even if they fail at it, it’s an attempt at TERRORISM.

And yet, Athena says there is some debate about whether or not it really, really is terrorism.

I don’t want to come across as alarmist, but we should at least investigate these types of incidents, and they should serve as a heads-up on the vulnerability of soft targets. And while we may never be able to fully identify lone-wolf type actors, the wider populace can become more vigilant and sensitive to patterns that could turn into actions.

I agree. Meanwhile, here is what reader “A”, who graduated from the school and lives nearby, has written to me:

I am a graduate of UNC and had the unfortunate pleasure of being next door to the building that they cleared for fear of bombs on Friday. What all those stories did not mention was that less than a block away from those apartment buildings was a school and daycare center that was ordered by law enforcement to keep all children inside for fear of an explosion.
I still live in Chapel Hill and am pretty aphalled at the response that the incident has received. In fact, the University has not even deigned to call this terrorism–and the students are mad about it.

The students have in fact had a protest rally, which you can read about here. And just listen to why driving your car into a group of people is not terrorism:

“Not only did he fail, he failed miserably and has become a laughing stock,” said UNC student Evan Hughes. “I don’t think that terrorism fits.” (Terrorism is only terrorism if it works? Remember that, Evan Hughes, when a car is speeding toward you and only manages to break your leg.)

“When you think of terms of a global context, this was an isolated incident,” said Khurram Bilal Tariq. (Egad! When you think of terrorism in a global context, the attacks are ALL isolated incidents! Tell me, do colleges actually teach thinking anymore, or do they just tell students that if they know the right cliches and a few three syllable words they are “smart” and should be fast to offer an opinion?)

Well, the 50 protesting students did not get what they wished for. Neither the school nor the media will call this a “terrorist attack” until someone succeeds at something. Nice, eh?

Meanwhile, read “A” emails the following update: While they are covering the suspect as a crazy man not at all associated with any form of mainstream Islam, the students who protested the University response were accused today in the local papers as using a terrible act (still not terror act) as an opportunity to grandstand about the war and perpetuate a state of fear. There are numerous editorials as well as a cartoon making fun of those students today. They held the protest under the title of a “Unity Rally Against Terrorism” and were derided for everything from the title they chose to the themes they expressed….The Daily Tarheel contended that only 12 (students) were in attendance at the rally (there were 50).

I think the students have a right to be treated like reasonable adults with a reasonable concern here, and not like over-charged children at a day-care center who can be lulled into a nap with a nice, warm coo. I suspect the school will be facing lawsuits if they refuse to take this seriously and another attack - whether successful or not - occurs.

Meanwhile Mary Katharine Ham covers the assailant’s admission that he wanted to “punish” the United States and wonders if we can call it terrorism, yet?.

Jason wonders why it’s not even being called a hate crime.

Perhaps it’s only “terrorism” if it is as deadly as this.

The Sundries Shack pinged back with The Sundries Shack
Watcher of Weasels tracked back with The Council Has Spoken!
Watcher of Weasels tracked back with Submitted for Your Approval
Michelle Malkin tracked back with TAR HEEL TERRORIST: "EYE FOR AN EYE"

by TheAnchoress @ 1:43 pm. Filed under Education, Touch of evil, War on Terror

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11 Responses to “Really stupid remarks about terrorism”

Sigmund Carl and Alfred Says:
March 7th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
The local- and national coverage of the events in Chapel Hill have been abysmal.

Terror is not not necessarily a phenomena that involves more than one perpetrator.

It is irrelevant if the terrorist has been a supporter of the ’cause’ for a week or a decade. It is the actions that define what is terror.

In the Chapel Hill case, the perpetrator has spoken. It is irrelevant if he stable or not.

The Palestinians have used children- some of them mentally challenged- to commit acts of terror.

This double major college grad knew exactly what he was doing. If he had been killed in the attempt and left the same message behind, we would jave no qualms about referring to him as a terrorist.
Darrell Says:
March 7th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
NO, NO, NO…We must stick to the template. There is no terrorism and Bush Lies. Nothing to see here, folks–move along!
Bob Diethrich Says:
March 7th, 2006 at 3:43 pm
I am sure the media response would be the same if a crazed pro-life zealot drove into an abortion clinic or a skin-head ran his pickup truck through an MLK day parade. I am sure it would be treated exactly the same, and would not be the lead story on every network news show for two weeks.
Bender B. Rodriguez Says:
March 7th, 2006 at 5:16 pm
I still remember that, for several days after 9-11, the media were referring to it as “the tragic events of 9-11,” rather than using words like “attack,” “act of war,” “terrorism,” etc. I still remember getting an e-mail from a co-worker who was offended that I used such a hateful word as “war” when I suggested that everyone be careful and keep their eyes open.
TheAnchoress Says:
March 7th, 2006 at 6:43 pm
Bender, I recall very clearly the morning of 9/11 and Tom Brokaw announcing clearly and unapologetically “this is war…”
Michelle Malkin Says:
March 7th, 2006 at 10:18 pm
TAR HEEL TERRORIST: “EYE FOR AN EYE”

The search warrant in the case of UNC-Chapel Hill Muslim revenge plotter Mohammed Taheri-azar was released today. WRAL, which has provided superlative ongoing coverage, reports: A man who admits that he intentionally plowed into nine people on the UNC-…
Bender B. Rodriguez Says:
March 7th, 2006 at 11:19 pm
Sadly, Anchoress, that was probably the last time the MSM used that term. Go ahead and Google and Yahoo “tragic events of 9-11″ and similar phrases and see how many references come up.
Watcher of Weasels Says:
March 7th, 2006 at 11:56 pm
Submitted for Your Approval

First off… any spambots reading this should immediately go here, here, here, and here. Die spambots, die! And now… here are all the links submitted by members of the Watcher’s Council for this week’s vote. Council li…
benning Says:
March 9th, 2006 at 3:17 am
Not surprised at all. Disappointed, ma’am, but not surprised. Until the NYTimes building is attacked by keffiyeh-wearing arabs, they will not call it terrorism.

Sad, ain’t it?
Watcher of Weasels Says:
March 10th, 2006 at 1:27 am
The Council Has Spoken!

First off… any spambots reading this should immediately go here, here, here, and here. Die spambots, die! And now… the winning entries in the Watcher’s Council vote for this week are The Bloody Borders Project by Gate…
The Sundries Shack Says:
April 13th, 2006 at 9:37 pm
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