オバマ大統領による「テロ」という言葉の再定義

トピックス

2013年4月24日

オバマ大統領による「テロ」という言葉の再定義

　現地時間の４月１５日（日）　１４時４５分頃、ボストン・マラソンで爆破事件がありました。

　そして翌日には「米オバマ大統領がテロと断定した」というニュースが流されました。

　その報に接し、私（代表　片桐）はテロ組織による犯行声明も出た様子がない中で、「早い断定」だと感じたものです。

　私はテロというからには、背景に明確な政治的目的があるものと思い、「オバマ大統領は安易にテロという言葉を使ってしまったのではないか。もしこれがテロでなければ、どう収めるつもりだろう。あるいは収める為に無理やり理屈を後から付けるのか」とも思いましたし、後付けされる工作にも恐しさを覚えたものです。

　犯人と目される容疑者は４日後の１９日に拘束・逮捕され、現段階ではどうやら政治的目的やテロ組織とのつながりはないようです。

　ならばやはり「テロ」ではなく、「爆破事件」ではないかと思いました。

　今回の事件についてＷｉｋｉｐｅｄｉａ　日本語版では「2013年ボストン・マラソン爆発事件」として扱われ、英語版では「Boston Marathon bombings」として扱われております。

　またアメリカで起こる乱射事件は「shooting」、「massacre」（惨殺）という表現が使われております。

　そこでオバマ大統領が「テロと断定した」とされる記者会見の内容を探し、英語が出来ない私なりに解釈してみました。

　前後は省略しますが、テロと断定したとされる部分は、

　This was a heinous and cowardly act. And given what we now know about what took place, the FBI is investigating it as an act of terrorism. Any time bombs are used to target innocent civilians it is an act of terror. What we don't yet know, however, is who carried out this attack, or why; whether it was planned and executed by a terrorist organization, foreign or domestic, or was the act of a malevolent individual. That's what we don't yet know. And clearly, we're at the beginning of our investigation.

で

　これは凶悪で卑劣な行為だ。　
　ＦＢＩはテロ行為として調査し始めた。　
　罪のない市民を標的にした爆破行為は、いかなる場合もテロ行為である。
　今回の爆破を誰が何の為に行ったのかわからない。
　国内外のテロ組織により計画・実行されたのか、悪意のある個人によるものなのかもわからない。
　今、調査を開始したばかりだ。
　
と訳してみました。

　オバマ大統領は「この事件をテロと断定した」のですが、それよりもむしろ重要なことはこの記者会見で「テロ」を再定義したことではないかと解釈しました。

　９・１１以降、アメリカ国民は「テロ」という言葉にナイーブになっているでしょうし、嫌悪感等も増しているはずです。

　ＮＨＫクローズアップ現代「ボストン爆破事件　"新たなテロ"に揺れるアメリカ」ではホームグロウン・テロリズム(
Homegrown terrorism）という聞きなれない言葉も紹介され、ＮＨＫアメリカ総局記者は「国産テロ」と訳しリポートしておりました。
　アメリカは外からのテロ、内なるテロを恐れ、その撲滅に躍起になっているように見えました。

　オバマ大統領の記者会見は「いかなるテロも許さない。テロは手段を選ばず撲滅する」という静かな宣言なのかも知れません。

　以上です。

　参照：

　４月１６日　オバマ大統領　記者会見　全文
　http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/04/16/statement-president
　
　Good morning, everybody. I've just been briefed by my national security team, including FBI Director Mueller, Attorney General Holder, Secretary Napolitano, and my Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Advisor Lisa Monaco, on the attacks in Boston. We continue to mobilize and deploy all appropriate law enforcement resources to protect our citizens, and to investigate and to respond to this attack.

Obviously our first thoughts this morning are with the victims, their families, and the city of Boston. We know that two explosions gravely wounded dozens of Americans, and took the lives of others, including a 8-year-old boy.

This was a heinous and cowardly act. And given what we now know about what took place, the FBI is investigating it as an act of terrorism. Any time bombs are used to target innocent civilians it is an act of terror. What we don't yet know, however, is who carried out this attack, or why; whether it was planned and executed by a terrorist organization, foreign or domestic, or was the act of a malevolent individual. That's what we don't yet know. And clearly, we're at the beginning of our investigation.

It will take time to follow every lead and determine what happened. But we will find out. We will find whoever harmed our citizens and we will bring them to justice.

We also know this -- the American people refuse to be terrorized. Because what the world saw yesterday in the aftermath of the explosions were stories of heroism and kindness, and generosity and love: Exhausted runners who kept running to the nearest hospital to give blood, and those who stayed to tend to the wounded, some tearing off their own clothes to make tourniquets. The first responders who ran into the chaos to save lives. The men and women who are still treating the wounded at some of the best hospitals in the world, and the medical students who hurried to help, saying "When we heard, we all came in." The priests who opened their churches and ministered to the hurt and the fearful. And the good people of Boston who opened their homes to the victims of this attack and those shaken by it.

So if you want to know who we are, what America is, how we respond to evil -- that's it. Selflessly. Compassionately. Unafraid.

In the coming days, we will pursue every effort to get to the bottom of what happened. And we will continue to remain vigilant. I've directed my administration to take appropriate security measures to protect the American people. And this is a good time for all of us to remember that we all have a part to play in alerting authorities -- if you see something suspicious, speak up.

I have extraordinary confidence in the men and women of the FBI, the Boston Police Department, and the other agencies that responded so heroically and effectively in the aftermath of yesterday's events. I'm very grateful for the leadership of Governor Patrick and Mayor Menino. And I know that even as we protect our people and aggressively pursue this investigation, the people of Boston will continue to respond in the same proud and heroic way that they have thus far -- and their fellow Americans will be right there with them.

Thank you very much. And you can expect further briefings from our law enforcement officials as the day goes on. When we have more details, they will be disclosed. What I've indicated to you is what we know now. We know it was bombs that were set off. We know that obviously they did some severe damage. We do not know who did them. We do not know whether this was an act of an organization or an individual or individuals. We don't have a sense of motive yet. So everything else at this point is speculation. But as we receive more information, as the FBI has more information, as our out counterterrorism teams have more information, we will make sure to keep you and the American people posted.

Thank you very much, everybody.