Pixelated Semantics

A schizotypical inventory

The definition of dilemma

There is no clearer proof that the definition of "terrorist" is an elastic political convenience, than a press article this morning discussing the Bush Junta's easing of its previously "hardline" stance on Hamas:

"American officials acknowledge that Hamas' electoral rise poses a dilemma in defining 'terrorists'...

"It's a very complicated problem. What do you do about these groups when they are both terrorist groups and entering into politics?" the senior administration official said.

While asserting that the United States will not deal directly with Hamas 'terrorists', a senior Bush administration official said it may be willing to have contact with politicians 'affiliated with the group'.

There is 'a big difference' between people who may be members of organisations but are not terrorists, versus terrorists, people who have blood on their hands" [the Official] said in March."

Bearing in mind the profusion of laws that criminalise association with "terrorists" since 9/11, breast-beating over "not negotiating with terrorists", etc, the interpretation of "terrorist" is then absolutley based on shifting sands of political fortunes and the ability to grab headlines. It seems dubious and highly dangerous to allow "anti-terror" laws that potentially impose death penalties to be enacted by "representatives" who are decidedly elastic about who those laws should apply to. By consorting with Hamas leaders, is the Bush Junta not in violation of its own laws and "moral standards", if their "public" stance on "terror" is to be credible?

Or is the edifice of a "war on terror" built around a fixation with strong media-friendly language that refines political power rather than "public interest"? The fact that it's suddenly and locally "a very complicated problem" to define a "terrorist", as opposed to the "with us or against us" rhetoric post-9/11, should equally apply to the detainees of America's Gulags as those on whom political fortune and media attention may temporarily favour.

Item posted by AutoEditor at 11:47 am ::