Can terrorism be justified? and if so, to what extent?

[-:Undertaker:-]

Can acts of terror ever be justified? in many cases, we get caught up in the battle at hand and judge an event depending on what side of the fence we sit on rather than the morality behind those acts committed and the underlying causes. One controversial example of this is Nelson Mandela and the ANC - where Mandela headed the armed wing of the ANC which targeted and killed innocent civillians of both skin colours in the struggle against the apartheid government in South Africa.

Another is the IRA in the United Kingdom, where its cause was supported by a minority of subjects in Ulster in contrast to the struggle in Spain where the Basque Country independence cause had much more public support than the United Ireland cause ever did.

So can terrorism ever be justified? can targeting innocent civilians for a political objective ever be excusable even if the cause is worthy and moral? or is, as I personally think, killing innocent civillians inexcusable and only excusable when targeting political targets *only after* all political resolutions have been closed off? ie, a dictatorship.

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The debate is open to you.

[Aiden]

Well I guess there's two sides... each side must think there right so it just depends on your side or open mindedness to how others think. I don't really have an opinion, I just think everything happens for a reason what things like this are dealt with by a higher rank to me and you. Theres no point in worrying about something you can't change.. *peace*

[Kardan]

No. Or at least, that's what I want to say. I'm very close minded, because terrorism is surely all bad? Surely the bad aspects of terrorism outweigh the good? But then I considered North Korea, and what if so called 'terrorists' wanted to get rid of the North Korean government? Is that right?

Perhaps terrorism is subjective, in that case, whatever you class as 'terror' can be wrong.

Let's just stick with no.

[FlyingJesus]

The entire point of terrorism as per its definition is to scare people into doing what you want - successful terrorist groups (ie those who get into power through their actions) are simply tyrants. Political dissatisfaction should be dealt with politically, and the only engagement of civilians or anyone else not directly involved should be on a voluntary basis should they choose to join the fray

[dbgtz]

As a last resort, it is justifiable. Where a country attacks civilians (accidental or intentional) to "crackdown on terrorism", then I don't see what else they could do as they clearly would not reason. Or if they are in a dictatorship and where any peaceful opposition would simply be crushed.

In the end, it depends on the circumstances.

[Calum0812]

I just don't think so. I think people talking is the best way to resolve something and acts of terrorism is just beyond me.
Obviously events like 9/11 come to mind where so many lives were lost.

[4Fraider]

How can terrorism ever be justified? What gives you the right to kill innocent people for the sake of individual opinions? I'm afraid I can never see terrorism as being justified regardless of the extremity of it.

[Chippiewill]

No, Terrorism is never justified, if Terrorism becomes justified then it becomes Freedom fighting instead.