Could we have been victims of Financial Terrorism

It appears that the financial mishaps of our leaders in Washington DC have been quickly forgotten. The ballots, the stimulus packages, the appointments, the housing crisis, all have seemed to have overshadowed a very sinister scheme. In thinking about this whole financial situation we have experienced, I was taken back to the events of 9/11 and was thinking how we were all stunned about the terrorism that happened on American soil that day. The terrorist on that day hit major icons of American life. They wanted to hit Americans by what we depended on the most. I guess that is why they did not target the churches. Money, wealth, power are the new icons of American life. Everything about being successful today is centered around the value of ones net worth.

Terrorism is something we leave to the Islamic terrorist to bring about right? Remember, Timothy McVeigh, or the Weather Underground, or the many terrorist cells within our borders that has no Islamic associations whatsoever. As our nations fundementals changes, so does the tactics of America's enemies within. As I researched the definition of terrorism, I found that there are many variations of what law enforcement and government officials view as terrorism. Here is a summary taken from http://www.terrorism-research.com/:Terrorism is not new, and even though it has been used since the beginning of recorded history it can be relatively hard to define. Terrorism has been described variously as both a tactic and strategy; a crime and a holy duty; a justified reaction to oppression and an inexcusable abomination. Obviously, a lot depends on whose point of view is being represented. Terrorism has often been an effective tactic for the weaker side in a conflict.

As an asymmetric form of conflict, it confers coercive power with many of the advantages of military force at a fraction of the cost. Due to the secretive nature and small size of terrorist organizations, they often offer opponents no clear organization to defend against or to deter.That is why preemption is being considered to be so important. In some cases, terrorism has been a means to carry on a conflict without the adversary realizing the nature of the threat, mistaking terrorism for criminal activity. Because of these characteristics, terrorism has become increasingly common among those pursuing extreme goals throughout the world. But despite its popularity, terrorism can be a nebulous concept. Even within the U.S. Government, agencies responsible for different functions in the ongoing fight against terrorism use different definitions.

The United States Department of Defense defines terrorism as “the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.” Within this definition, there are three key elements—violence, fear, and intimidation—and each element produces terror in its victims. The FBI uses this: "Terrorism is 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." The U.S. Department of State defines "terrorism" to be "premeditated politically-motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.Outside the United States Government, there are greater variations in what features of terrorism are emphasized in definitions.

The United Nations produced this definition in 1992; "An anxiety-inspiring method of repeated violent action, employed by (semi-) clandestine individual, group or state actors, for idiosyncratic, criminal or political reasons, whereby - in contrast to assassination - the direct targets of violence are not the main targets." The most commonly accepted academic definition starts with the U.N. definition quoted above, and adds two sentences totaling another 77 words on the end; containing such verbose concepts as "message generators" and 'violence based communication processes." Less specific and considerably less verbose, the British Government definition of 1974 is"…the use of violence for political ends, and includes any use of violence for the purpose of putting the public, or any section of the public, in fear."I was interested in this explanation of terrorism:That is why preemption is being considered to be so important. In some cases, terrorism has been a means to carry on a conflict without the adversary realizing the nature of the threat, mistaking terrorism for criminal activity.

Because of these characteristics, terrorism has become increasingly common among those pursuing extreme goals throughout the world. But despite its popularity, terrorism can be a nebulous concept. Even within the U.S. Government, agencies responsible for different functions in the ongoing fight against terrorism use different definitions.So I began thinking. Do you think that an intelligent person would not realize that, if you sold bad securities to investors that were being backed by individuals who had no means of making good on these securities, that eventually this would bring forth a financial disaster? Could this be a planned event perpetrated by individuals (American politicians), to bring fear to Americans toward capitalism, thereby bringing forth their plan of socialism? How else can socialism exist, unless the concept of capitalism was seen as a utter failure? A plan failure preempted to bring fear in their audience of the financial losses by those that Wall Street harmed the most. I find it odd that most of those who benefited from the bad loan practices are those who have radical liberal views about socialism.

Many are a part of the radical 60's movement that believed that America was and still is a country that is responsible for the abuses and oppression of many nations. Now no one was blown up by these irresponsible acts, but how many people were impacted emotionally, mentally and financally. How many people were thrown into financial distress as the reality of actually having to pay real mortgages for overpriced homes set in? How many homeowners were impacted as they saw their home values plummet because of the massive foreclosures. Terrorism brings forth fear, would you say that there are many Americans who now has fears about the well being of Americas financial future?And now these bad securities have begun to affect almost every sector of America's economic system. Each week we hear of a new bailout being talked about in Congress. And where are the perpetrators? Waiting to take over the White House, holding powerful seats in the Senate, living high off their huge executive payoffs, and others are blaming the current adminstration. Could it be that we have just experienced one of the most well executed terrorist plots from within? So brilliantly executed that the players would even be rewarded by the American people as the perpetrators acts bring financial harm to the masses. Could it be?