Really stupid remarks about terrorism

So, as I was leaving on Friday, this story was breaking:

Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar, 22, deliberately drove a rented Jeep Cherokee into the Pit area outside the Student Union, hitting nine people just before noon, police say. Six people suffered minor injuries; three others declined to be treated.

He’s mad at America. He’s mad at this cartoon. Whatever. He said he wanted to kill people, that he was trying to kill people and that had he done the job right, he would have killed people.

‘Zat about the gist of it?

Now, seems to me, when someone wants to kill random innocent people to make some sort of point, that’s TERRORISM. Even if they fail at it, it’s an attempt at TERRORISM.

And yet, Athena says there is some debate about whether or not it really, really is terrorism.

I don’t want to come across as alarmist, but we should at least investigate these types of incidents, and they should serve as a heads-up on the vulnerability of soft targets. And while we may never be able to fully identify lone-wolf type actors, the wider populace can become more vigilant and sensitive to patterns that could turn into actions.

I agree. Meanwhile, here is what reader “A”, who graduated from the school and lives nearby, has written to me:

I am a graduate of UNC and had the unfortunate pleasure of being next door to the building that they cleared for fear of bombs on Friday. What all those stories did not mention was that less than a block away from those apartment buildings was a school and daycare center that was ordered by law enforcement to keep all children inside for fear of an explosion.
I still live in Chapel Hill and am pretty aphalled at the response that the incident has received. In fact, the University has not even deigned to call this terrorism–and the students are mad about it.

The students have in fact had a protest rally, which you can read about here. And just listen to why driving your car into a group of people is not terrorism:

“Not only did he fail, he failed miserably and has become a laughing stock,” said UNC student Evan Hughes. “I don’t think that terrorism fits.” (Terrorism is only terrorism if it works? Remember that, Evan Hughes, when a car is speeding toward you and only manages to break your leg.)

“When you think of terms of a global context, this was an isolated incident,” said Khurram Bilal Tariq. (Egad! When you think of terrorism in a global context, the attacks are ALL isolated incidents! Tell me, do colleges actually teach thinking anymore, or do they just tell students that if they know the right cliches and a few three syllable words they are “smart” and should be fast to offer an opinion?)

Well, the 50 protesting students did not get what they wished for. Neither the school nor the media will call this a “terrorist attack” until someone succeeds at something. Nice, eh?

Meanwhile, read “A” emails the following update: While they are covering the suspect as a crazy man not at all associated with any form of mainstream Islam, the students who protested the University response were accused today in the local papers as using a terrible act (still not terror act) as an opportunity to grandstand about the war and perpetuate a state of fear. There are numerous editorials as well as a cartoon making fun of those students today. They held the protest under the title of a “Unity Rally Against Terrorism” and were derided for everything from the title they chose to the themes they expressed….The Daily Tarheel contended that only 12 (students) were in attendance at the rally (there were 50).

I think the students have a right to be treated like reasonable adults with a reasonable concern here, and not like over-charged children at a day-care center who can be lulled into a nap with a nice, warm coo. I suspect the school will be facing lawsuits if they refuse to take this seriously and another attack – whether successful or not – occurs.

Meanwhile Mary Katharine Ham covers the assailant’s admission that he wanted to “punish” the United States and wonders if we can call it terrorism, yet?.

Jason wonders why it’s not even being called a hate crime.

Perhaps it’s only “terrorism” if it is as deadly as this.