Terrorism specifically involving Middle East when did it start?

[oldelkhunter]

What kicked this off ?

[Aught Six]

What kicked this off ?

The crusades.

[kevin1]

ORIGINAL: Aught Six

The crusades.

I think it goes a little further back than that Aught .
The Bible mentions what we would call terrorist acts in the Middle East long before it was called that .

[oldelkhunter]

I could allow that for an answer and it seems some specifically OBL mention that fact.

[oldelkhunter]

The Bible mentions what we would call terrorist acts in the Middle East long before it was called that .

I think that is the impetus behind the whole thing ..Crusades..establishing the state of Israel etc etc etc

[Aught Six]

I think it goes a little further back than that Aught .
The Bible mentions what we would call terrorist acts in the Middle East long before it was called that .

Indeed. I neglected to say that I was speaking about the roots of islamic terrorism (the currently much-debated topic). My apologies for the misunderstanding.

[Aught Six]

I think that is the impetus behind the whole thing ..Crusades..establishing the state of Israel etc etc etc

Well, Israel was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. It's all gone downhill since the late 40's.

[Strut&Rut]

Interesting post...

I guess we really need to define terrorism...

Webster: terrorism (n): the use of terror and intimidation to gain one's political objectives

Because of the insertion of the word political, this would be acts against a government or a ruling body. Although there has long been conflict in the region, most has been religious or greed based, not strictly political in nature.

There have been bloody conflicts and wars in that area since the days of the Pharohs and Mesopotamia, but most were for absolute power or land.

Is that considered terrorism...not really, because you're not intimidating, you're taking. Terrorism deals with striking fear into the ruling body to force them into making political (ruling) changes which trickle down into economics, ethics, trade and society.

Personally, I would say when Israel was made a separate nation...it is only since that time that political attacks have divided the region, due to the influx of democratic thinking...

[oldelkhunter]

I forgot one thing also the expulsion of the Moors from Spain..seems like OBL mentioned Andalusia more then once in some of his ramblings.

[Strut&Rut]

Just a quick follow-up on what I said before...

Remember that terrorism and terrorists seek to change the direction of a country/humankind by invoking their will through someone who is either a puppet or the current ruling body. They themselves want to influence through fear, but do not directly want to rule.

Before the rise of democracy, the Middle Eastern nations were about dissolution and government changes...this is completely different than terrorism...