As for SBThailand, the state she’s from is dominated by people with an attitude like hers. Unfortunately it is one I know all to well as I had the misfortune of doing crew changes there for several years while I was building sea time to advance my license. Lousyana is a place where dissent is not only not tolerated it is savagely attacked. And, they’re darn proud of it!

When you start to impede my right to move around freely, we have a problem. I don’t think there is a limit per se, but at some point, as a group, you have crossed the line. PAD has definately crossed that line. I agree, Thailand’s problems will not be solved anytime soon and I am certain it will be much worse before it can get any better.

What is the limit that an organization can go to in order to bring about change?

I don’t support PAD as their agenda is corporate/military, although I do sympathize with their desire to rid the country of Thaksin. Power structures shape society, the PAD movement is just another example of traditional power structures flexing their muscles. The answers to the problems in Thailand though will not be solved any time soon unfortunately.

And I am sorry, but a broad discussion is not necessary to classify PAD’s armed seizure of the airport as terrorism. A broad discussion is not necessary when we call anyone who seizes an aircraft a terrorist, so why do you think it is necessary now? It is very obvious that the PAD has ceased being an agent of change and has morphed into a terror organization. If you don’t believe me, ask all the people that have been beaten up, kept hostage in Thailand, or the police officers that came under fire the other day.

The discussion is based around the legitimate use of “terror” as a weapon of the weak and, unfortunately, as the dominant hegemon, America has featured in many of what could be considered terrorist activities, either as perpetrator or victim.

SB if you want a broad discussion on this (which I hope you do as it’s an interesting issue that requires great analysis) then America will have to feature, as would apartheid S.Africa, The I.R.A, French/American revolutionaries e.t.c.

Also, one doesn’t have to denounce their nationality due to disagreements with government/foreign policy. The tone of this is actually quite totalitarian, which I hope is a misreading of the situation by me.

bosunj, feel free to get on a bus gus (too bad PAD terrorist shut down the airport), head to the States and start your own movement. BTW, since you hate the U.S. so much, have you given up that almighty American passport of yours? Or are some things from the American government worth a damn?

The FBI defines terrorism as:

The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a Government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

This includes the PAD, but also the Somchai government and every American administration ever I would imagine …

Below are interesting readings:

“The United States is a Leading Terrorist State”

Interview with Noam Chomsky

http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/200111–02.htm

Excerpt of another interview here:

http://www.serendipity.li/wot/us_terr_st.htm