Terrorism
Terrorism is defined by Merriam Webster’s as:
violent or destructive acts (as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands
In 1945, the United States dropped nuclear weapons on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There were not military targets. Over 100,000 Japanese civilians died from the explosion and radiation. By contrast, less than 4,000 civillians killed in 9/11 organized by Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. The justification for US use of nuclear weapons against Japan was to convince the Japanese government (its military establishment and public leader- its Emperor) to halt its resistance of Allied attacks — to surrender. Could it be argued that such an attack that targeted (and suceeded) in killing civillians to coerce a government to grant demands such as Hiroshima & Nagasaki could be classified as terrorist? Why or why not?
