The Road to American Independence: John Adams' Observations - Page 3

Bodhisattva · 07-11-08, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donsutherland1

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No, they would not. They engaged the British Army head-on. They did not direct their campaign against British civilians in the 13 colonies, Canada, or Britain. They did not seize hostages to extort ransoms or prisoner releases. George Washington's orders to his Army were to avoid causing harm to civilians.

They may not have been deemed terrorists, but many actions commited by the USA were terrorist actions. We specifically targeted women and children in many instances, crushing their skulls and setting them afire.

Tashah · 07-11-08, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteEU

When the Palestinians lob a rocket into Israel its terror, but when the IDF lobs a shell into Gaza or use attack helicopters to attack a car its not.. both terrorise the civilian populations, but we don't call what the IDF does as terror, but believe me for the civilians on the ground they feel the same terror as the Israelis hearing the air raid signal when a Palestinian rocket comes flying overhead.

Palestinian Katyusha rockets are notoriously unpredictable. They are fired not at military targets, but exclusively at towns and villages for the purpose of killing/injuring civilians and destroying private property. This is terrorism.

IDF artillery units use what is known as “counter-battery radar”. Quite simply, this type of radar uses a computer to reverse-track a projectile (ie. Katyusha rocket) back to its point of origin. Artillery shells are then fired at the precise coordinates of the rocket launch. Since the rocket launch site is a viable military target, this is not terrorism.

Tashah · 07-11-08, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bodhisattva

They may not have been deemed terrorists, but many actions commited by the USA were terrorist actions. We specifically targeted women and children in many instances, crushing their skulls and setting them afire.

Do you have any evidence whatsoever that General Washington or the revolutionary war General Staff ordered attacks on unarmed civilians? Sources please.

Bodhisattva · 07-11-08, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tashah

Do you have any evidence whatsoever that General Washington or the revolutionary war General Staff ordered attacks on unarmed civilians? Sources please.

I have it somewhere on my cpu and I will call it up later, kids are gonna wake up soon and I need at least a few hours sleep.

Tashah · 07-11-08, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bodhisattva

I have it somewhere on my cpu and I will call it up later, kids are gonna wake up soon and I need at least a few hours sleep.

Very well. I'm not saying some sordid incidents did not happen. But to my knowledge, such actions were not official US war policy. Well known are some horrific incidents in some southern colonies against British sympathizers. When Washington became aware of this however, he dispatched an officer to bring the situation under control and terminate all vigillante actions against said colonists.

donsutherland1 · 07-11-08, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bodhisattva

They may not have been deemed terrorists, but many actions commited by the USA were terrorist actions. We specifically targeted women and children in many instances, crushing their skulls and setting them afire.

I highly doubt that there is any primary source (orders, documents from the American Revolution, etc.) information that substantiates such claims. There is a difference between such sources and revisionist or esoteric commentary published some two centuries after the war.

In any case, I posted applicable orders concerning the conduct of his troops (http://www.debatepolitics.com/histor...post1057660915 (The Road to American Independence: John Adams' Observations)) earlier in this thread.

Bodhisattva · 07-11-08, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donsutherland1

I highly doubt that there is any primary source (orders, documents from the American Revolution, etc.) information that substantiates such claims. There is a difference between such sources and revisionist or esoteric commentary published some two centuries after the war.

In any case, I posted applicable orders concerning the conduct of his troops (http://www.debatepolitics.com/histor...post1057660915 (The Road to American Independence: John Adams' Observations)) earlier in this thread.

Orders of George Washington to General John Sullivan, at Head-Quarters May 31, 1779

The Expedition you are appointed to command is to be directed against the hostile tribes of the Six Nations of Indians, with their associates and adherents. The immediate objects are the total destruction and devastation of their settlements, and the capture of as many prisoners of every age and sex as possible. It will be essential to ruin their crops now in the ground and prevent their planting more.

I would recommend, that some post in the center of the Indian Country, should be occupied with all expedition, with a sufficient quantity of provisions whence parties should be detached to lay waste all the settlements around, with instructions to do it in the most effectual manner, that the country may not be merely overrun, but destroyed.

But you will not by any means listen to any overture of peace before the total ruinment of their settlements is effected. Our future security will be in their inability to injure us and in the terror with which the severity of the chastisement they receive will inspire them

The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources

Bodhisattva · 07-11-08, 04:36 PM

Ask and ye shall recieve!

There are more accounts too...

Tashah · 07-12-08, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bodhisattva

Ask and ye shall recieve!

There are more accounts too...

What does this have to do with fighting the British army? According to this document, some tories have armed and encouraged Indian tribes to attack US civilian and military personel. If you read between the lines, Washington has given his permission to wage war against these Indian tribes as they themselves wage war. No mercy.

Bodhisattva · 07-12-08, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tashah

What does this have to do with fighting the British army? According to this document, some tories have armed and encouraged Indian tribes to attack US civilian and military personel. If you read between the lines, Washington has given his permission to wage war against these Indian tribes as they themselves wage war. No mercy.

I don't have to read between the lines to see that there is no mercy...
"in the terror with which the severity of the chastisement they receive "

It has nothing to do with fighting the British army, either. That was not my goal. My goal was to prove that Washington did, in fact, order some of his troops to launch a terror campaign against civilians. He did. It is right there. Done.

I have other instances where there are implied commands to terrorize, torture peoples in order to gain advantage.