When does a group cross the line from being freedom fighters or revolutionaries to being "terrorists"?
Posted on February 20th, 2010 by admin
And when a military force targets civilians rather than say armed resistance fighters does that then in turn make the military force a "terrorist" organisation? Are they no longer military but rather terrorists, albeit in uniform?
If you ever figure that out, go tell the UN. They’ve been arguing about it for 60 years at least.
This is obviously a point of substantial debate in the international system, but I would say a good place to draw the line is targeting civilians. That’s what terrorists do (or at least they don’t focus exclusively on military targets). Many freedom fighter groups will argue they have to do this to exercise their rights to self-determination as no one will pay any attention otherwise. There are lots of other ways to define terrorism, and I would say many revolutionary groups cross those lines from time to time.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:51 am
It depends on what side you are on my friend. The difference between Freedom fighters and terrorist is strictly perception…. Both can be viewed as evil and as heroes…
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February 21st, 2010 at 4:05 am
when hate is present
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February 21st, 2010 at 4:27 am
Terrorism technically is committing random acts of violence against civilian noncombatants for the purpose of adversely influencing a government’s policies.
So, when they do that.
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February 21st, 2010 at 4:48 am
Terrorists make random attacks on innocent scivilians to instill fear. Freedom fighters and revolutionaries target military, police and government people and equipment.
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February 21st, 2010 at 5:29 am
If you ever figure that out, go tell the UN. They’ve been arguing about it for 60 years at least.
This is obviously a point of substantial debate in the international system, but I would say a good place to draw the line is targeting civilians. That’s what terrorists do (or at least they don’t focus exclusively on military targets). Many freedom fighter groups will argue they have to do this to exercise their rights to self-determination as no one will pay any attention otherwise. There are lots of other ways to define terrorism, and I would say many revolutionary groups cross those lines from time to time.
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BA in International Studies
February 21st, 2010 at 5:59 am
When the opposing side labels us as so.
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Exmarine
February 21st, 2010 at 6:19 am
When they lose the war.
History is recorded by the people who win. The way George Washington was thought of by the British was akin to being a terrorist by modern standards. If Osama bin-Laden had destroyed America, I’m sure he would have been considered a hero by many. Some people who we consider terrorist leaders are considered to be heroes by the Middle Eastern world. (Although not bin-Laden so much, because he’s mainly an instigator and the most of the Arab people realize that most of his activities usually just result in the Arab world getting blown up more.)
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February 21st, 2010 at 7:05 am
It depends entirely which side you are on.
The jewish terrorists stole Palestine in the 1940s and now the Palestinians are called terrorists for trying to get it back
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