Is there a clear line between Terrorist and Freedom Fighter

[Anonymous]

I think a terrorist is a freedom fighter who uses innocents for his political aims, but a true freedom fighter fights the gov and army only and not uses civilians. Am i wrong because i keep hearing that a freedom fighter is the same thing as a terrorist.

[Xvall]

The idiots who say freedom fighters are the same as 'terrorists' are just people who use this excuse to bash on people that desire their indepencence from the corrupt U.S government. It's the media.. Nothing more..

[Bakunjin]

For US government everyone who fights for freedom is a terrorist... Che was a terrorist, too... Interesting....

[pastradamus]

nobody,not even the best dictionaries can define the word terroist properly.

[revolutionary spirit]

Terrorism=The United States Of America

[Anonymous]

Good points lads!

[Revolution Hero]

Fighting for the freedom does cause a feeling of terror in the minds of fucking capitalists and oppressors. They become terrified and use their fake emotions calling everyone terrorists.
Revolutionary Spirit is right equalizing the term terrorism with the usa. Just remember how they have bombed Afganistan with the vacuum bombs. That was the true TERROR.
If one fights for freedom he is called terrorist, the thing is that they can call that fighters whatever they like, and it will not change the situation much. FREEDOM FIGHTERS WILL GET THEIR VICTORY, BECAUSE THEY FIGHT FOR THE JUSTICE!

[Maaja]

To say that freedom fighers = terrorists is very imperialistic. There may be some terrorists among freedom fighters aswell as some freedom fighers among terrorists but...

[Dhul Fiqar]

A terrorist, as defined by the Western establishment, is a soldier with no country.

Thus the PLO can be labeled terrorists by the USA, but the Israely army can't. In other words, it's like Weber said, "the state has a monopoly on violence". Anyone who breaks that monopoly is declared a terrorist.

I see an opening for a Microsoft style anti-trust suit against Capitol Hill based on this ;)

--- G. Raven

[Fires of History]

The word 'terrorist' and 'freedom fighter' are political terms, and as such are useless anymore in describing the political actions of people. If you disagree, they are 'terrorists,' if you agree, they are 'freedom fighters.'

After all, George Washington was a terrorist by the current meaning of the word in the U$.

I will say this though, if you are fighting for power, money, status, or special interest, then you're probably a 'terrorist.'

But when you are fighting to aleviate the suffering of your people, to break the chains of your race, to bring about self-governance and nationhood to your community, then, I would say, you're definitely a freedom fighter! And more power to you...

[kingbee]

che talks bout the fine line between both in guerilla warfare doesnt he?
do they class the cuban goverment as terrorists? (im reffering to the u$, of course)

[flames of the flag]

i think that the word terrorist is useless after 911
everyone is a terrorist now and the people using the word have no idea of a clear definition of it. Really takes the piss out if. I think we should just stop using it and call anyone with a good cause a freedom fighter and anyone without an idiot. What really makes me mad is that some loser oncnn called che a terrorist. That guy is stupid beyond words comrades
-flames

[Dhul Fiqar]

I agree wholeheatedly with flames, the term has been gang-raped repeatedly by pundits and the media and has lost all meaning. These days one also hears a lot of folks speak of "evil people" like it's something easily defined in the non-metaphysical sense.

I think "freedom fighter", as well as "idiot" and "ignorant" can be used respectively to distinguish between senseless murder and legitimate struggle for justice.

--- G. Raven

[Maaja]

I know that lots of people have called Che terrorists. At least Estonian politicians... Well, if Che was a terrorist then...

[I Will Deny You]

I don't think that there's any clear line. A bunch of schmucks who fired at the Redcoats in Lexington and Concord could have very easily been called terrorists. But now, they're heroes! If the rebels had lost the war, you can bet I'd be speaking with an English accent and calling George Washington a "wanker". Abbie Hoffman was denounced as a terrorist because of his pig-nominating antics. Meanwhile, I'm supposed to believe that all American troops around the world are heroes! It all depends on perspective. And remember, the winners are the ones who write the history books.

[Dhul Fiqar]

I just have to say that I laughed out loud when I pictured that alternate reality with Americans calling Washington a wanker, that's a funny-ass mental image ;)

[TheDerminator]

It is not a simplisitic issue.

There are some groups who have come from supposed leftist positions, who use terrorist tactics, and as I recall Lenin had a brother who died as a result of being the member of such a group. The "Marxist" position has always been that terrorism, alienates the potential supporters, because the evil of the action is used as a counter balance against the evil which is the prime causation of the action.

The Freedom fighter is not a terrorist. Such a person is up against an oppressor nation and the oppressor nation makes itself a legitimate target, by not addressing its oppression. All the same, if an organisation supposedly on the side of Freedom uses the same tactics as terrorists, it can come as no suprise that some of the alienating force rubs off.

They have a right, but it does not make their approach right. However, U cannot tar all the Freedom fighters with the one brush, and at the same time, undoubtedly the greater oppression mitigates their errors.

State terrorism, is another thing entirely. What Israel is doing in Palestine, with the acquiesence of the United States is state terrorism. Nor will there be a retribution tribunal after the dirty deeds pass into the annals of history.

The leaders of Israel do not need to worry about treating international opinion with contempt. The US guarantees its license to commit terror and the arabic nations like Egypt and Saudi Arabia are burying their heads in the sands. Still, tell U something U didn't already know...

Resistance is Futile!

derminated