From Newsweek · · 1m 50s
Hasan Piker's Terrorism Claim Sparks Debate
Hasan Piker says U.S. kills more people than al-Qaeda pound for pound, sparking backlash.
In brief
Hasan Piker says U.S. kills more people than al-Qaeda pound for pound, sparking backlash. Hasan Piker claimed the U.S. caused more deaths than al-Qaeda pound for pound, drawing immediate political criticism and academic debate over terrorism definitions. Originally reported by Newsweek.
Piker's Controversial Claim
Hasan Piker told Axios the U.S. has killed more people than al-Qaeda pound for pound in terrorism.
“Pound for pound as far as the number of deaths, yes”
Immediate Backlash
Republicans demanded Democrats disavow Piker, while Democrats called his comparison anti-American hate.
“comparing America to al-Qaeda wasn't an accident”
Piker's Defense
Piker denied linking his remark to Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed and called Axios clickbait.
“much weight to the statements made by a social media streamer”
Terrorism Definition History
The term 'terrorism' existed before 9/11 but gained political weight after the attacks.
“the word 'terrorism' existed in law and scholarship long before September 11, 2001”
Geoffrey Corn's View
Corn, a U.S. Army law expert, says terrorism involves unlawful violence targeting governments or spreading terror.
“Terrorism generally involves 'the use of unlawful violence, usually intentionally targeting people or things'”
Bruce Hoffman's View
Hoffman defines terrorism as non-state actors creating fear through violence for political change.
“the deliberate creation and exploitation of fear through violence or the threat of violence by non-state actors”
Mary Ellen O'Connell's View
O'Connell argues international law, not domestic statutes, defines terrorism since the 1930s.
“It is the only authoritative source of rights, duties, and definitions for all”
Costs of War Data
Brown University's Costs of War Project found 4.5 million indirect deaths in post-9/11 wars including civilians.
“the project's total climbs past 4.5 million”
Al-Qaeda's Toll
Al-Qaeda's confirmed deaths total 2,977 from 9/11 plus a few hundred from other operations.
“the September 11 attacks killed 2,977 people”
Legal Distinction
International law prohibits intentionally targeting civilians but allows incidental deaths if proportional.
“the law does not prohibit inflicting civilian casualties as long as they were not the intentional target”
State Terrorism Concept
Scholars call state terrorism violence by states designed to terrorize populations but it lacks legal definition.
“the distinction that many terrorism scholars draw is between terrorism, violence by non-state actors, and state terror”
Accountability Gap
The U.S. has few disciplinary actions for civilian casualties versus al-Qaeda's lack of legal accountability.
“no accountability mechanism exists for al-Qaeda's leadership beyond military and intelligence operations”
Piker's Comparison
Piker's claim equates incidental U.S. civilian deaths with deliberate al-Qaeda killings.
“Piker's comparison touches, whether he intended it or not, on a concept scholars call state terrorism”
Academic Consensus
Experts agree U.S. civilian deaths under international law are not terrorism while al-Qaeda's actions are.
“Every person killed in the Iran War has been killed unlawfully”
What to remember
Hasan Piker claimed the U.S. caused more deaths than al-Qaeda pound for pound, drawing immediate political criticism and academic debate over terrorism definitions.
