Is the Government Blurring the Definition of Terrorism?
When most people think of terrorism, they likely consider the actions of al-Qaida and the kinds of groups mentioned in the latest National Intelligence Estimate, which is being released today.
But Shane Harris, National Journal's national security correspondent, writes that terrorism legislation is also being used against people in groups like the violent environmentalist Earth Liberation Front whose actions make them criminals but what some consider dubious "terrorists."
Harris mentions in particular "the so-called terrorism enhancement, an obscure measure that allows judges to dramatically increase a person's sentence if his or her offense 'involved, or was intended to promote, a federal crime of terrorism,' as defined by Congress."
... an extensive examination by National Journal of cases where the enhancement was in play suggests that the government more often targets individuals who didn't commit a religiously motivated act of terrorism, or who consciously avoided human casualties. Some defendants were driven by political outrage, and specifically targeted government facilities. But their crimes, while serious and violent, were covered by well-established definitions and punishments.
In June, NPR's Talk of the Nation looked at the issue of terrorism enhancements, and the question of how to define terrorism.
Harris reports that Justice officials were reluctant to talk about their use of terrorism enhancement or how they determine when they will ask a judge to apply it.
12:22 PM ET | 07-17-2007 | permalink
