What is a "cowardly act?"

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

President Obama called the attacks in Paris "cowardly." What does that mean?

[AngryAmish]

1. It means it was bad.

Cowardice is looked down upon. Bill Maher learned this.

[Scootaloo]

2. Well, in general it would mean "attacking and killing unarmed innocent people"

But in context, it's a pretty good question, since US foreign policy under this administration holds that annihilating Pakistani wedding celebrants is self-defense.

So yeah, where is that distinction, exactly?

[99th_Monkey]

4. What^Scootaloo^Said + 100 -nt

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

5. Yeah, I think this is Obama's "what's the definition of is" moment.

Drone bombings instead of boots on the ground clearly not cowardly...right?

[mcar]

6. Is it time to parse sentences

so we can somehow slam President Obama already?

I thought it might wait till tomorrow, but this is DU, after all. Obama must be criticized for everything. Definition of is moment - really?

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

7. ^"Some people" take their cues from Rethugs

Republicans always know when it's the right time to talk about murdering people.

Aside: this isn't an isolated incident of "some people" who took the form of Republicans in Dem clothing shortly after 2008. It was sad to see, to be honest. Then I got pissed and disgusted by "some people." It's the "It's only bad when Republicans do it" attitude. In a word: pathetic.

[mcar]

8. Were you responding to me?

I don't understand what you are saying here. I'm saying it is ridiculous to criticize Obama for one phrase in a statement and claim it is his "definition of is" moment. It is a fairly standard way of referring to such attacks.

Or to claim that he has no right to offer condemnation of this attack because of drone strikes. Really?

10 journalists and 2 LEOs are murdered. But, for sure, lets use their deaths to criticize Obama for two words in a statement.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

13. Oh, so for a prepared speech, Obama doesn't choose...

...His words carefully? Not buying. He chose "cowardly act" this and other times. I'm asking, what's a cowardly act if not slaughtering thousands with drone strikes? Why is that honorable? Oh yeah, because a Democrat is calling the shots.

And having said all of that, I completely understand why you don't have a clue as to what I'm talking about. Nothing is getting through the bubble. That's what we used to say about Republicans.

[SidDithers]

9. Nailed it...

Sid

[Bonx]

11. Add in 'purposefully'

and there is the difference.

[Coventina]

3. Worry over perceived insults to a man who died in in the year 632.

I think that's a level of insecurity that rises to cowardice.

[Recursion]

10. "Cowardly" has meanings besides "lacking physical courage"

There's also the sense of "reprehensible" and "beneath contempt".

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

15. But, again, he says "cowardly" rather than "reprehensible" each time to convey...

chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], poltroon, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow

So my follow-up question is, are drone bombings "cowardly"? If not, how are we to differentiate the "cowardly" acts of "their" terrorists from those of our terrorists, well, in this case, drone bombing.

[egduj]

12. The President described it perfectly.

[dissentient]

14. I think President Obama was eloquent in his remarks about this terror attack

It is cowardly to go into a magazines office where people are unarmed and draw cartoons for a living, have yourself equipped with high powered military weapons, and mow them down where they don't stand a chance.

That said, I read the thread, and I agree that it is also cowardly to use drone strikes, especially when so many innocent people are killed by these strikes.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

17. Yep. Hard to say their terrorists are "cowards" when we're slaughtering thousands remotely

[tabasco]

16. Arming yourself with combat weapons to attack people working in an office.

HOPE IT HELPS!

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

18. Thanks Cap'n Obvious. You don't get it.

[Hutzpa]

19. WTF!!!

are people really trying to defend the actions of these cowards by finding every possible error that was said or have been said about previous encounters just so they can make a point?

If so, I say this is absolutely rediculous.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

20. No, you're just hi-jacking another thread!!!

OMG!!!

Someone said something about something and you don't like it!!!!!

OMG!!!!!

No other opinions than Hutzpa's!!!

OMG!!!

[Hutzpa]

21. Please post proceed.

nt