d.
Hoffman’s definition is too narrow for the FBI, which defines a terrorist act as “the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.” The FBI, therefore, believes that terrorists need not be part of any organized or loose group and can act individually without any direction from such groups. Still, it is reluctant to categorize an incident as terrorism unless it is claimed by a group.
Christopher Hewitt observed that “Most American terrorism differs from terrorism in other countries in that a significant proportion of terrorist acts have been carried out by unaffiliated individuals rather than by members of terrorist organizations. . . . Such loners will pose the greatest threat to the security of the United States . . . since they are hard to track down. . . . Freelancers are defined as individuals who are not members of a terrorist group, or members of an extremist organization acting under the orders of an official of the organization.” Hewitt calls this type of terrorist “unaffiliated.”
Leonard Robinson - 5/14/2007
I have not yet read your book, so I can't speak to experts upon which you rely for your definition. Taking into account the fact that there is no universally accept definition for the concept of terrorism, I usually employ the State Department's definition in the course I teach on political violence and terrorism. I do this with the full knowledge that there is no other term in politics that is so pregnant with negative connotations as terrorism. Thus, virtually every source on the subject tends to shape their definition, either consciously or subconsciously, to fit their political agenda or worldview.
At any rate, since this was an attack on a US politician who was running for the highest office in the land, it seems to me to make sense to use the US government's definition. Their definition, as provided on the State Department's website is as follows:
"The term 'terrorism' means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant/*/ targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience."
In this case, "noncombatant" refers to military personnel who are off duty or civilians. That would seem to include Senator Kennedy as a possible target; however, unless one can prove that Sirhan was part of a subnational group (group in this case meaning an organization, not simply being a member of an alienated ethnic or religious group), or a clandestine agent working for another state, Sirhan would not fit the official definition.
Again, I raise this issue not to excuse Sirhan's despicable act, but rather to try to treat in as objective manner as possible the issue of terrorism, about which it is hard for many people to maintain their objectivity.
Mel Ayton - 5/14/2007
If you read my chapter entitled ‘The Unaffiliated Terrorist’ you will be able to understand why his act can be judged as ‘terrorist’ in nature. I make reference to a number of terrorism experts who agree with this characterization.
I think you are correct in saying you are suspicious of eyewitness testimony in events of this kind.There was no real consistency in the eyewitness reports due to the alarming, intense and frenzied nature of the shooting.You are also correct in saying that my approach to some parts of Marcus McBroom's statements were also inconsistent. However, I believe that eyewitness reports can be judged valid and other parts invalid because of the ‘preponderance’ of the evidence which surrounds such an event e.g. witnesses who describe Michael Wayne running out of the pantry with a rolled up poster/newspaper as against those who immediately jumped to conclusions that it was the ‘second gunman’. No one is ever consistent in accounts of this kind but that doesn’t mean that everything they say should be immediately rejected, at least not without some kind of comparative analysis with other parts of the evidence.
As a rule