Terrorist or Patriot?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 21:32:26 -0500

Preception is in the eye of the beholder. If an enemy attacks on our soil, threatening our way of life, we label them a terrorists, rightfully so.

Now we invade and want to make their life better, stabilize a country, build an infrastructure, train an army, but for some that is threatening their way of life. In this scenario, who is the terrorist and who is the patriot?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2014 9:43 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 21:43:16 -0500

Great question.....two things come to mind.

1) As a nation, we need to start accepting that our way of life is not always the best way of life and doesn't always fit into other cultures (Iraq and Afghanistan from my experience are great examples of this.

2) Does our invovlement help national interests? I am not always up to speed on this, but I would think that at the political level, this drives a lot of what we do and why!

Just my thoughts!

Response by SSgt Randy Saulsberry made Mar 15 at 2015 11:27 PM

SSgt Randy Saulsberry — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 23:27:03 -0400

In both scenarios you both a terrorist and a patriot. You're terrorist to the people's homeland you're attacking that don't agree with you and you are a patriot for defending your nation of origin's honor, or whatever

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 15 at 2015 11:28 PM

COL Charles Williams — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 23:28:11 -0400

Very true. I used to discuss this very topic in with Soldiers in Iraq. It is all about your vantage point. The British Army considered the United States Army during the American Revolution essentially terrorists.