Sick of the word "insurgents"

[SHRED]

Are you?

I am just wondering when they are going to be called by their real names: Iraqi citizens.

[951]

1. Prior to Saddam's capture they were called Saddam loyalists

[GodHelpUsAll2]

2. Well you know

They have to come up with something totally bogus. Why mess up a perfect record of lies ad start telling the truth now.

[wtmusic]

3. The last in a distinguished line of malapropisms

including "fedayeen", "paramilitarists", "foreign fighters", and "death squads"

[whistle]

5. The death squads will be what Negroponte installs...

...to begin taking out all of the resistance fighters, their families and their relatives, just as he did in Latin America in the 1980s

[wtmusic]

6. Yes it is more than a bit ironic

that all of those terms fit better on our own armed forces

[whistle]

4. Iraqi resistance fighters....

...and innocent women and children.

[Lori Price CLG]

7. 'Freedom fighters' or 'resistance fighters' works for me...

...since these are Iraqi citizens striving to repel foreign invaders.

Lori Price
http://www.legitgov.org/

[kixot]

8. I guess "patriot" works as good as anything else.

What's good for the goose...

Though I think that word has been sorely misused for "nationalist" in the last few years.

[Eye and Monkey]

12. "conservatives" - in Iraq, the "insurgents" are the conservatives

Hey, wudya know - just like in the good ol' USofA!

[sr_pacifica]

9. Since when did insurgent become a bad word?

It only means a people that are rising up against established rule. Sounds appropriate to me.

[Aidoneus]

10. And what would be the established authority here?

There exists no legitimate authority in the occupied nation in question, only the dictatorial regime appointed by the invaders. I would not have referred to the regimes of Vidkun Quisling or Marshall Petain, or other comperable setups, as acceptable authorities in the equation.

[sr_pacifica]

17. Right you are

The established authority IS the dictatorial regime appointed by invaders as you say. So in this case the word "insurgent" in particular cannot be considered a negative label.

[UdoKier]

11. It's fairer than what Fox News calls them - "terrorists"

Besides, for the media to call them anything more would provoke massice outrage among Americans from the far right to the center-left.

Thhe vast majority of Americans have a serious problem with anything that smacks of "hoping for the enemy to win".

I want our guys home ASAP, but I also don't want one more of them killed, EVEN if it meant Bush would be re-elected.

Enough death already.

[sffreeways]

13. Yes I'm sick of that and

the willy nilly use of the word terrorist too. Bush uses terrorist when describing the fighters but the press uses insurgents. I don't think I've heard Bush use the term insurgent. Maybe I missed it, he probably couldn't pronounce it. That sounds like one he would stumble all over. Inscurgent, insurget, insrurgent

During the Vietnam war it was communist or gorillas. I don't remember the term insurgent. I wonder why they haven't resurrected the term gorilla ? And they don't identify the Iraqis fighting the military politically like communists or Bathists. Insurgents is a generic term.

From dictionary.com

Rising in revolt against established authority, especially a government.
Rebelling against the leadership of a political party.

Interesting use of the word of course because there is no established government in Iraq. I suppose that's the think tanks desire by using it. It suggests that there is an established government in Iraq. The authority has been installed by the US. Or the US is the authority.

a person who rises in revolt against civil authority or an established government; especially : one not recognized as a belligerent
one that acts contrary to the established leadership (as of a political party, union, or corporation) or its decisions and policies

insubordinate; rebellious. ``The insurgent provinces.'' --

one who openly and actively resists the execution of laws; a rebel.

adj : in opposition to a civil authority or government n 1: a person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions) 2: a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment



Anyone know what the Iraqis call themselves ? Freedom Fighters ?

[Aidoneus]

14. 'resistance' or 'moqawama'

same word, different language. It is the proper phrase for most of the players, though some minor units fit other descriptions.

[Hello_Kitty]

15. How about Outsourced Iraqis?

Since 75% unemployment rates, resulting from the exploitive and incompetent handling of rebuilding efforts by the neo-con utopians, are believed to be a major cause of their joining the insurgence.

[Swamp Rat]

16. Me too!

Iraqi citizens is what they are... and they are defending their nation the best they can against the "most powerful military in the world." If some country, or group of alien lizards were to attack America, I'd be happy to have the help of immigrant freedom fighters, i.e. Canadians, Mexicans, or maybe Bushmen from Africa.

[Disturbed]

19. Freedom Fighters?

No, no they cannot be called that because our Glorious Leader has said that they "hate us for our freedom" and the "fear freedom".

Fighting the "established authority"? Who established that authority?

An illegal invading force and Occupation, perhaps?

[nickgutierrez]

18. I think I have an answer:

When we stop trying to kill them.

[timtom]

20. Thank you!

I've been freaking out about this since the invasion and illegal occupation.

I also refuse to call it a "war."

Some of us are blessed to be immune from the cheap and tawdry tactics of propaganda. Unfortunately, some of our less enlightened brethern and sistern from the right are blinded and dazzled by all the pretty lights.

<On edit: spellings errors are intentional>

[JCMach1]

21. Iraqi Freedom Fighters

since that's what the operation is called :)