Why does the media insist on calling terrorists insurgents?

Nitemare

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
35,461
4
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Someone who straps bombs to their chests and blows up a van load of kindergartners is not an insurgent, they are a terrorist.

I guess I should be happy that they are not calling them patriots or freedom fighters.
 

feralkid

Lifer
Jan 28, 2002
16,912
5,013
136
Why does the media insist on calling terrorists insurgents?





Why does you not know that it's "why do the media". Media is a plural form.

 

Nitemare

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
35,461
4
81
Originally posted by: feralkid
Why does the media insist on calling terrorists insurgents?





Why does you not know that it's "why do the media". Media is a plural form.

If I wanted the grammar police I would have posted this in ATOT
 

Zephyr106

Banned
Jul 2, 2003
1,309
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Terrorists are anyone who uses terroristic tactics. Insurgents are anyone fighting an occupation. When someone does both they can be called either. The word terrorist seems to be over used in some quarters simply to elicit an emotional response.

And if I said something like fricking Negro scum about a black criminal, would I be banned?

Zephyr
 

Infohawk

Lifer
Jan 12, 2002
17,844
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The real question is why does the media and the administration insist on calling these people terrorists and insurgents when they are freedom fighters? They are fighting to get a foreign occupier out of their country. They are freedom fighters. Like the American rebels in the Revolutionary war and the Vietnamese in the Vietnam war, they want to get the occupier out at all costs. They are resisting an occupation. The only reason they are being called insurgents and terrorists is because the US is the unjust occupier here. If we were invaded by Russians, and I started killing collaborators with home-made bombs and a couple kids got killed by accident, would you blame it on me or would you blame it on the Russians? You'd blame it on the Russians.
 

TheBoyBlunder

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2003
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Originally posted by: Infohawk
The real question is why does the media and the administration insist on calling these people terrorists and insurgents when they are freedom fighters? They are fighting to get a foreign occupier out of their country. They are freedom fighters. Like the American rebels in the Revolutionary war and the Vietnamese in the Vietnam war, they want to get the occupier out at all costs. They are resisting an occupation. The only reason they are being called insurgents and terrorists is because the US is the unjust occupier here. If we were invaded by Russians, and I started killing collaborators with home-made bombs and a couple kids got killed by accident, would you blame it on me or would you blame it on the Russians? You'd blame it on the Russians.

Uh...I'd blame you. You set the bomb, your bomb blew up the kids, therefore it's your fault.
 

Infohawk

Lifer
Jan 12, 2002
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TheBoyBlunder, Let me put it another way. I set a bomb targeting a Russian convoy. I'm just a civilian resisting. I'm doing my best to build a bomb. But the timer does not work properly because I'm not an export. I miss the convoy and schoolchildren die. Would I be held in contempt by my fellow Americans? Of course not. They would blame it on the Russians for causing me to take up arms.
 

fjord

Senior member
Feb 18, 2004
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I don't know who "The Media" is/are. But true journalist need not, and should not accept characterizations made by Bush's administration (or anyone else) as true--out of hand.

This is exactly what happened immediately after 9/11--and it was a mistake then, as it is now. Journalism requires a skeptical attitude--always.

Hopefully "The Media" have begun to take a responsible approach to their profession, instead of becoming lazy stooges and defacto mouthpieces.
 

DealMonkey

Lifer
Nov 25, 2001
13,136
1
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Originally posted by: Nitemare
Someone who straps bombs to their chests and blows up a van load of kindergartners is not an insurgent, they are a terrorist.
So Nitemare, what do you call someone who drops bombs and blows up an apartment full of school children?
 

TheBoyBlunder

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2003
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Originally posted by: Infohawk
TheBoyBlunder, Let me put it another way. I set a bomb targeting a Russian convoy. I'm just a civilian resisting. I'm doing my best to build a bomb. But the timer does not work properly because I'm not an export. I miss the convoy and schoolchildren die. Would I be held in contempt by my fellow Americans? Of course not. They would blame it on the Russians for causing me to take up arms.

I think you're giving the average American too much credit, but that's just my opinion.
 

Nitemare

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
35,461
4
81
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Originally posted by: Nitemare

Someone who straps bombs to their chests and blows up a van load of kindergartners is not an insurgent, they are a terrorist.

So Nitemare, what do you call someone who drops bombs and blows up an apartment full of school children?

I would call that a horrible accident. We are not targeting apartment buildings full of school kids though, and the terrorists are targeting any and everyone including vans of children....sort of like the Palestinians blowing themselves up whereever there is alot of Israeli's. They are nothing more than terrorists that like to maim and destroy women and children.
 

tnitsuj

Diamond Member
May 22, 2003
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Originally posted by: Nitemare
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Originally posted by: Nitemare

Someone who straps bombs to their chests and blows up a van load of kindergartners is not an insurgent, they are a terrorist.

So Nitemare, what do you call someone who drops bombs and blows up an apartment full of school children?

I would call that a horrible accident. We are not targeting apartment buildings full of school kids though, and the terrorists are targeting any and everyone including vans of children....sort of like the Palestinians blowing themselves up whereever there is alot of Israeli's. They are nothing more than terrorists that like to maim and destroy women and children.


They were specifically targeting the van full of children?? Really. Where did you read that?

The briefing the governor gave indicated that all three attacks were directed at the police stations and the children were passing by?
 

rickn

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 1999
7,064
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Originally posted by: Nitemare
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Originally posted by: Nitemare

Someone who straps bombs to their chests and blows up a van load of kindergartners is not an insurgent, they are a terrorist.

So Nitemare, what do you call someone who drops bombs and blows up an apartment full of school children?

I would call that a horrible accident. We are not targeting apartment buildings full of school kids though, and the terrorists are targeting any and everyone including vans of children....sort of like the Palestinians blowing themselves up whereever there is alot of Israeli's. They are nothing more than terrorists that like to maim and destroy women and children.

what difference does it make when the outcome is the same. What makes is morally justified to use the bombs in the first place
 

tnitsuj

Diamond Member
May 22, 2003
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Originally posted by: rickn
Originally posted by: Nitemare
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Originally posted by: Nitemare

Someone who straps bombs to their chests and blows up a van load of kindergartners is not an insurgent, they are a terrorist.

So Nitemare, what do you call someone who drops bombs and blows up an apartment full of school children?

I would call that a horrible accident. We are not targeting apartment buildings full of school kids though, and the terrorists are targeting any and everyone including vans of children....sort of like the Palestinians blowing themselves up whereever there is alot of Israeli's. They are nothing more than terrorists that like to maim and destroy women and children.

what difference does it make when the outcome is the same. What makes is morally justified to use the bombs in the first place


It makes a big difference. collateral damge is different from deliberate attacks
 

rickn

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 1999
7,064
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Originally posted by: tnitsuj
Originally posted by: rickn
Originally posted by: Nitemare
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Originally posted by: Nitemare

Someone who straps bombs to their chests and blows up a van load of kindergartners is not an insurgent, they are a terrorist.

So Nitemare, what do you call someone who drops bombs and blows up an apartment full of school children?

I would call that a horrible accident. We are not targeting apartment buildings full of school kids though, and the terrorists are targeting any and everyone including vans of children....sort of like the Palestinians blowing themselves up whereever there is alot of Israeli's. They are nothing more than terrorists that like to maim and destroy women and children.

what difference does it make when the outcome is the same. What makes is morally justified to use the bombs in the first place


It makes a big difference. collateral damge is different from deliberate attacks

really? I always thought a dead body was a dead body. either way they didn't ask to be murdered
 

DealMonkey

Lifer
Nov 25, 2001
13,136
1
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Originally posted by: Nitemare
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Originally posted by: Nitemare

Someone who straps bombs to their chests and blows up a van load of kindergartners is not an insurgent, they are a terrorist.

So Nitemare, what do you call someone who drops bombs and blows up an apartment full of school children?

I would call that a horrible accident. We are not targeting apartment buildings full of school kids though, and the terrorists are targeting any and everyone including vans of children....sort of like the Palestinians blowing themselves up whereever there is alot of Israeli's. They are nothing more than terrorists that like to maim and destroy women and children.

Right, you'd call it collateral damage. Same deal with the insurgents. The school van just happened to be driving by the police station.

Now, I'm not defending violence on anyone's part here, and certainly not the actions of these insurgents, or whatever you want to call them. At least I'm not being duplicitous by denouncing violence in order to effect political change when it's the insurgents who are using it, and glorifying it when the U.S. uses it. Violence is a blunt tool in anyone's hands. I deplore every instance of it.
 

geecee

Platinum Member
Jan 14, 2003
2,383
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Originally posted by: tnitsuj

They were specifically targeting the van full of children?? Really. Where did you read that?

The briefing the governor gave indicated that all three attacks were directed at the police stations and the children were passing by?

Do the semantics really matter? Children should never have to suffer a fate like that.

More on topic, the mujhadeen in Soviet-occupied Afghanistan were called freedom fighters and insurgents. I'm sure the Soviets called them something else. It all depends on who's doing the writing and whose side you were on.
 

tnitsuj

Diamond Member
May 22, 2003
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Originally posted by: rickn
Originally posted by: tnitsuj
Originally posted by: rickn
Originally posted by: Nitemare
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Originally posted by: Nitemare

Someone who straps bombs to their chests and blows up a van load of kindergartners is not an insurgent, they are a terrorist.

So Nitemare, what do you call someone who drops bombs and blows up an apartment full of school children?

I would call that a horrible accident. We are not targeting apartment buildings full of school kids though, and the terrorists are targeting any and everyone including vans of children....sort of like the Palestinians blowing themselves up whereever there is alot of Israeli's. They are nothing more than terrorists that like to maim and destroy women and children.

what difference does it make when the outcome is the same. What makes is morally justified to use the bombs in the first place


It makes a big difference. collateral damge is different from deliberate attacks

really? I always thought a dead body was a dead body. either way they didn't ask to be murdered


No it doesn't matter to the dead. These are terms to be argued for the living.
 

TheBDB

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2002
3,176
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Intent is very important. Consider the difference between homicide and manslaughter.
 

Shelly21

Diamond Member
May 28, 2002
4,111
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Is it possible for freedom fighters or insurgents to also be terrorists? I think so.

If USA was invaded by liberals who wants to change the leadership, there would be freedom fighters, and some of them would employ terrorist tactics; To kill the liberal leaders and their families (let's call it accident).

;)
 

dahunan

Lifer
Jan 10, 2002
18,191
3
0
Originally posted by: tnitsuj
Originally posted by: rickn
Originally posted by: tnitsuj
Originally posted by: rickn
Originally posted by: Nitemare
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Originally posted by: Nitemare

Someone who straps bombs to their chests and blows up a van load of kindergartners is not an insurgent, they are a terrorist.

So Nitemare, what do you call someone who drops bombs and blows up an apartment full of school children?

I would call that a horrible accident. We are not targeting apartment buildings full of school kids though, and the terrorists are targeting any and everyone including vans of children....sort of like the Palestinians blowing themselves up whereever there is alot of Israeli's. They are nothing more than terrorists that like to maim and destroy women and children.

what difference does it make when the outcome is the same. What makes is morally justified to use the bombs in the first place


It makes a big difference. collateral damge is different from deliberate attacks

really? I always thought a dead body was a dead body. either way they didn't ask to be murdered


No it doesn't matter to the dead. These are terms to be argued for the living.

Or maybe the living who remember the murdered dead person?? I am sure that the dead people knew someone who are now grieving over their loss - or are you that coldhearted to believe otherwise?