Original (pre-Orwellian) Definition of the Word "Terrorism" Funk and Wagnalls New Practical Standard Dictionary (1946)
How the World Works
Pirates and Emperors
Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, p. 1473:
terrorism. "Act of terrorism" means an activity that involves a violent act or an act dangerous to human life that is a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State, or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the United States or of any State; and appears to be intended--(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by assassination or kidnapping. 18 U.S.C.A. §3077.
[Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, p. 1473]
Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1983, ISBN 0-87779-509-6, p. 1218:
terrorism. the systematic used of terror esp. as a means of coercion.
[Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1983, ISBN 0-87779-509-6, p. 1218]
Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1983, ISBN 0-87779-509-6, p. 1218:
terror : 1: a state of intense fear. 2 a: one that inspires fear and anxiety: WORRY b: an appalling person or thing esp: BRAT 3: REIGN OF TERROR 4: violence (as bomb-throwing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands, insurrection and revolutionary~. syn see FEAR.
[Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1983, ISBN 0-87779-509-6, p. 1218]
Click here to see the USA Patriot Act, which provides stiff punishments for terrorism.
Chief of Naval Education and Training (CNET) Terrorism Training
Click here to see the Chief of Naval Education and Training (CNET) official training curriculum that defines terrorism from the perspective of the U.S. government.
Definitions of Terrorism-Wikipedia
Department of State: Patterns of Global Terrorism. Washington: Dept. of State, 2001: vi
No one definition of terrorism has gained universal acceptance. For the purposes of this report, however, we have chosen the definition of terrorism contained in Title 22 of the United States Code, Section 2656f(d). That statute contains the following definitions:
The term "terrorism" means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant (1) targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.
The term "international terrorism" means terrorism involving citizens or the territory of more than one country.
The term "terrorist group" means any group practicing, or that has significant subgroups that practice, international terrorism.
The U.S. Government has employed this definition of terrorism for statistical and analytical purposes since 1983.
Domestic terrorism is probably a more widespread phenomenon than international terrorism. Because international terrorism has a direct impact on U.S. interests, it is the primary focus of this report. However, the report also describes, but does not provide statistics on, significant developments in domestic terrorism.
(1) For purposes of this definition, the term "noncombatant" is interpreted to include, in addition to civilians, military personnel who at the time of the incident are unarmed and/or not on duty. For example, in past reports we have listed as terrorist incidents the murders of the following U.S. military personnel: Col. James Rowe, killed in Manila in April 1989; Capt. William Nordeen, U.S. defense attache killed in Athens in June 1988; the two servicemen killed in the La Belle disco bombing in West Berlin in April 1986; and the four off-duty U.S. Embassy Marine guards killed in a cafe in El Salvador in June 1985. We also consider as acts of terrorism attacks on military installations or on armed military personnel when a state of military hostilities does not exist at the site, such as bombings against U.S. bases in Europe, the Philippines, or elsewhere.
Fear-Wikipedia
Federal Bureau of Investigation: Terrorism 2002-2005, pp. 4-5
Definitions
There is no single, universally accepted, definition of terrorism. Terrorism is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations as “the unlawful use of force and 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” (28 C.F.R. Section 0.85).
The FBI further describes terrorism as either domestic or international, depending on the origin, base, and objectives of the terrorist organization. For the purpose of this report, the FBI will use the following definitions:
- Domestic terrorism is the unlawful use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual based and operating entirely within the United States or Puerto Rico without foreign direction committed against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof in furtherance of political or social objectives.
- International terrorism involves violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or any state, or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the United States or any state. These acts appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of a government by assassination or kidnapping. International terrorist acts occur outside the United States or transcend national boundaries in terms of the means by which they are accomplished, the persons they appear intended to coerce or intimidate, or the locale in which their perpetrators operate or seek asylum.
The FBI Divides Terrorist-Related Activities into Two Categories:
- A terrorist incident is a violent act or an act dangerous to human life, in violation of the criminal laws of the United States, or of any state, to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.
- A terrorism prevention is a documented instance in which a violent act by a known or suspected terrorist group or individual with the means and a proven propensity for violence is successfully interdicted through investigative activity.
Note: The FBI investigates terrorism-related matters without regard to race, religion, national origin, or gender. Reference to individual members of any political, ethnic, or religious group in this report is not meant to imply that all members of that group are terrorists. Terrorists represent a small criminal minority in any larger social context.
FBI Literature says Constitutionalists are terrorists:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation labels all those persons who insist on observance of government employees to the U.S. Constitution as "super patriots" and terrorists!
FBI Terrorism Page
Navy Department Library: Terrorism
Paper Terrorism-Wikipedia
State-Sponsored terrorism-Wikipedia
Terrorism-Wikipedia
18 U.S.C. Part I, Chapter 113B: Terrorism- federal crimes relating to terrorism
28 C.F.R. §0.85 FBI, General Functions
Title 28: Judicial Administration
PART 0—ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
§ 0.85 General functions.(l) Exercise Lead Agency responsibility in investigating all crimes for which it has primary or concurrent jurisdiction and which involve terrorist activities or acts in preparation of terrorist activities within the statutory jurisdiction of the United States. Within the United States, this would include the collection, coordination, analysis, management and dissemination of intelligence and criminal information as appropriate. If another Federal agency identifies an individual who is engaged in terrorist activities or in acts in preparation of terrorist activities, that agency is requested to promptly notify the FBI. Terrorism includes the unlawful use of force and 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.
6 U.S.C. §101(16): Terrorism
TITLE 6 > CHAPTER 1 > § 101
(16)The term “terrorism” means any activity that—
§ 101. Definitions
(A)involves an act that—
(i)is dangerous to human life or potentially destructive of critical infrastructure or key resources; and
(ii) is a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State or other subdivision of the United States; and
(B) appears to be intended—
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii)to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii)to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.
USA Patriot Act, 2001
SEC. 802. DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM.
(a) DOMESTIC TERRORISM DEFINED- Section 2331 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)(iii), by striking `by assassination or kidnapping' and inserting `by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping';
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking `and';
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting `; and'; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
(5) the term `domestic terrorism' means activities that--
(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;
(B) appear to be intended--
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and
(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.'.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 3077(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
(1) `act of terrorism' means an act of domestic or international terrorism as defined in section 2331;'.
18 U.S.C. §2331
TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 113B > § 2331
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00002331----000-.html
§ 2331. Definitions
(5) the term “domestic terrorism” means activities that—
(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;
(B) appear to be intended—
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and
(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.
18 U.S.C. §3077
TITLE 18 > PART II > CHAPTER 204 > § 3077
§ 3077. Definitions
As used in this chapter, the term—
(1) “act of terrorism” means an act of domestic or international terrorism as defined in section 2331;
18 U.S.C. §3071
TITLE 18 > PART II > CHAPTER 204 > § 3071
§ 3071. Information for which rewards authorized
(a) With respect to acts of terrorism primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, the Attorney General may reward any individual who furnishes information—
(1) leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country, of any individual or individuals for the commission of an act of terrorism against a United States person or United States property; or
(2) leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country, of any individual or individuals for conspiring or attempting to commit an act of terrorism against a United States person or property; or
(3) leading to the prevention, frustration, or favorable resolution of an act of terrorism against a United States person or property.
(b) With respect to acts of espionage involving or directed at the United States, the Attorney General may reward any individual who furnishes information—
(1) leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country, of any individual or individuals for commission of an act of espionage against the United States;
(2) leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country, of any individual or individuals for conspiring or attempting to commit an act of espionage against the United States; or
(3) leading to the prevention or frustration of an act of espionage against the United States.