The Jihad Jane and Joe Stack cases show that terrorism is not described in easily glib language as the editors at Newsweek.com would have us believe. Instead, terrorists come in all shapes, sizes, ethnicity and causes for their outrage. We have to consider the act as the definition of terror as opposed to definining terrorism by the perpetrators. That should prevent people like congressman Steve King (R-IA-5) “empathetic” toward one act of terror while admonishing others ( I thought Republicans didn’t believe in empathy btw ).

While it may make people feel better to create imaginary profiles of terrorists, as the recruitment of Jihad Jane shows, given a firm profile terrorist will simply adjust and adapt.

uh-oh — Newsweek.com seems to be on a downward spiral — first the Rielle Hunter hagiography and now a ridiculous piece about “a running Newsweek debate about why and when we decide to call attacks on our country by the loaded word ‘terrorism.’” I’ve dealt with the media and political hypocrisy on the Austin IRS Terrorist here.

Here’s a key bit of the Newsweek piece:

Devin Gordon, Editor, NEWSWEEK.com
Austin Tax Wacko a terrorist-or as the Wall St Journal called him “the tax protester.” And I’m wondering if anyone has read yet – or would tackle themselves—a thorough comparison between our ho-hum reaction to a guy who successfully crashed a plane into a government building versus the media’s full-throated insanity over the underpants bomber, who didn’t hurt anyone but himself.

(extra links removed) — here’s the link to Newsweek.com’s “discussion.”

Here’s Greenwald’s reaction:

On so many levels, this is one of the most stunningly revealing things I’ve read in quite some time.  As I documented last week, the media’s reluctance to describe IRS attacker Joe Stack as a “terrorist” reveals that this term has little to do with the act itself and everything to do with the demographic attributes of the actor:  namely, in the American political lexicon, “Terrorists” are Muslims who dislike the U.S., while Americans — especially ones who are white and non-Muslim — cannot, by definition, qualify.

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Congressman James Clyburn admonishes Steve King (IA-5) for saying the Austin Plane terrorism was a noble act. I’ve detailed my thoughts on the Austin event here.

Interestingly enough Vernon Hunter, the man killed in the terrorist act, was a two-tour Vietnam Veteran.

Update I To finish the thoughts on Vernon Hunter, generally politicians from both sides are quick to praise military service members sacrifice. In this instance, the plight of Vernon Hunter and his family, a federal worker doing his job has been largely ignored by both the media and both Republicans and until recently Democrats. I seriously doubt Vernon Hunter’s family will receive millions of dollars like the victims of other terrorist attacks have received.

I’ve written several times about the hypocrisy surrounding the Austin IRS terrorist and those like Congressman Steve King Iowa who are significantly interested the use of extreme measures in the “Global War on Terror.” The Austin IRS bomber (has anyone come up with a name that has stuck yet?) became a sympathetic figure in both anti-IRS fringe movements and some folks on the right like Congressman King.

Sullivan has a great catch from Mark Shea entitled “She says her Dad was a hero… “

Although she said that act was “inappropriate”, she hopes that “now maybe people will listen.” Charles Krauthammer has instructed us that if you have the “slightest belief” that torture will save a *single* life then you are morally bound to do it. Surely, there is at least the *chance* that this woman is linked to other extremists and terrorists. She was, after all, raised by an extremist and terrorist and she publically acclaims him as a hero…
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Talkingpointsmemo.com has an interesting catch from this weekend’s CPAC convention:

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) told a crowd at CPAC on Saturday that he could “empathize” with the suicide bomber who last week attacked an IRS office in Austin, and encouraged his listeners to “implode” other IRS offices, according to a witness. source: TalkingPointsMemo.com

As I said later last week I believe it is incredibly dangerous to hold different standards of terrorism based on relatively minor attributes of the perpetrator of the violence.   If Republicans want to reduce the tax burden on citizens, do the obvious reduce the size of government — all government including military spending, as Ron Paul advocates.

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