Reply #44: Nah, you've got it wrong. An insurgent is... [View All]

[Devils Advocate NZ]

Main Entry: 1in·sur·gent
Pronunciation: -j&nt
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin insurgent-, insurgens, present participle of insurgere to rise up, from in- + surgere to rise -- more at SURGE
Date: 1765
1 : a person who revolts against civil authority or an established government; especially : a rebel not recognized as a belligerent
2 : one who acts contrary to the policies and decisions of one's own political party

A guerrilla is:

Main Entry: 1guer·ril·la
Variant(s): or gue·ril·la /g&-'ri-l&, ge-, g(y)i-/
Function: noun
Etymology: Spanish guerrilla, from diminutive of guerra war, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German werra strife -- more at WAR
Date: 1809
: a person who engages in irregular warfare especially as a member of an independent unit carrying out harassment and sabotage

Finally, here is the definition of resistance:

Main Entry: re·sis·tance
Pronunciation: ri-'zis-t&n(t)s
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
1 a : an act or instance of resisting : OPPOSITION b : a means of resisting
2 : the ability to resist; especially : the inherent capacity of a living being to resist untoward circumstances (as disease, malnutrition, or toxic agents)
3 : an opposing or retarding force
4 a : the opposition offered by a body or substance to the passage through it of a steady electric current b : a source of resistance
5 often capitalized : an underground organization of a conquered or nearly conquered country engaging in sabotage and secret operations against occupation forces and collaborators

Now do you see why they want to use the term "insurgent" or "guerrilla" instead of "resistance fighter"?

A "guerrilla" is a person engaging in irregular warfare, and the term is nuetral in so far as it conveys no message other than the methods used. "Insurgent" however does not refer to the methods used, but the motives of the person involved, in this case "rebellion against civil authority or established government". In other words if those fighting the US in Iraq are insurgents, then the US is the established government and civil authority of Iraq.

Now look at "resistance fighter" and you see why they don't like it. It refers to members of a "conquered or nearly conquered" country fighting against "occupation forces and collaborators".

The Bush cabal is trying to define what is going on in Iraq as a rebellion aganist the legitimate government of Iraq (ie the CPA) rather than the legitimate government of Iraq (ie Saddam Hussein and the people of Iraq) resisting "occupation forces" (ie US troops) and "collaborators" (ie the CPA).

The former definition proclaims the US and CPA as being the side of good, whereas the latter calls the US and CPA the side of evil.