Don't call it an 'insurgency' in Iraq-Rumsfeld

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N29324413.htm


<snip>"I've thought about it. And, over the weekend, I thought to myself, you know, that gives them a greater legitimacy than they seem to merit," Rumsfeld said.

Rumsfeld instead referred to the guerrillas in Iraq as "the terrorists" and "the enemies of the government." U.S. military statements also have referred to insurgents as "anti-Iraqi forces." snip

It is not the first time Rumsfeld has quibbled with words describing the enemy in Iraq. In June 2003, for example, Rumsfeld said the conflict was not a "guerrilla war," only to have his top commander in the region two weeks later call it "a classical guerrilla-type campaign." snip

During the briefing, the top U.S. military officer, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, slipped up twice and said "insurgent." With Rumsfeld standing at his side, Pace told reporters, "I have to use the word 'insurgent' because I can't think of a better word right now."

[occuserpens]

1. What about "homicidal" rather than "suicidal" bombers?

[Disturbed]

5. A simple mesaage from a simpleton to the simple Amerikan

masses.

The following is too complicated for general consumption.

Iraqi Insurgency

In January 2005 Iraqi intelligence service director General Mohamed Abdullah Shahwani said that Iraq's insurgency consited of at least 40,000 hardcore fighters, out of a total of more than 200,000 part-time fighters and volunteers who provide intelligence, logistics and shelter. Shahwani said the resistance enjoyed wide backing in the Sunni provinces of Baghdad, Babel, Salahuddin, Diyala, Nineveh and Tamim. Shahwani said the Baath, with a core fighting strength of more than 20,000, had split into three factions.

The main one, still owing allegiance to jailed dictator Saddam Hussein, is operating out of Syria. It is led by Saddam's half-brother Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan and former aide Mohamed Yunis al-Ahmed, who provide funding to their connections in Mosul, Samarra, Baquba, Kirkuk and Tikrit. Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri is still in Iraq. Two other factions have broken from Saddam, but have yet to mount any attacks. Islamist factions range from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al-Qaeda affiliate to Ansar al-Sunna and Ansar al-Islam.

A picture of the composition of the insurgency, though in constant flux, has come into somewhat greater focus. London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates roughly 1,000 foreign Islamic jihadists have joined the insurgency. And there is no doubt many of these have had a dramatic effect on perceptions of the insurgency through high-profile video-taped kidnappings and beheadings. However, American officials believe that the greatest obstacles to stability are the native insurgents that predominate in the Sunni triangle. Significantly, many secular Sunni leaders were being surpassed in influence by Sunni militants. This development mirrors the rise of militant Shia cleric and militia leader Moqtada al-Sadr vis-à-vis the more moderate Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_insurge...

[mnmoderatedem]

2. Don't forget there Rummy...

one man's terrorist/insurgent/enemy of the government/anti Iraqi force is another man's freedom fighter.

[walldude]

3. Unreal...

They are not an insurgency, we are liberators, they have all come from far off lands to fight the American infidels, the Iraqi people will love us, if we can just get rid of all those terrorists :eyes:

Nice try Rummy... There is an old saying "You can't polish a turd".

[El Supremo]

4. Let's not call him a secretary of defense.

Secretary of Imperialistic War gives him more legitimacy.

BTW, the news conference is on CSPAN now.

[cloud_chaser1]

6. aren't you happy that

Rummy is so concerned with important an aspect of this war....what to call the enemy?

Too bad he isnt concerned with bringing that Rummy inspired war to an end and thgus save the lives of God knows how many Americans soldiers.

Whats the old saying about a Rose by any other names smells just as sweet? An insurgent by any other name is still a guy with a bomb out to kill American men.

[dutchdemocrat]

7. I'd say

If someone started tossing my family indiscriminately into hellholes like Abu Ghraib for torture sessions, started bombing my city with incindiary weapons and killing innocent civilians... picking them off for target practice

I would if someone came into my city using false intelligence and lies into order to secure the natural wealth of my nation, or if tanks were driving down my street with soldiers sent my country when the real criminal, the real terrorist, CIAQADA created Osama, is thousands of miles east of my own land.

Those that come to fight the war for Jihad who are not Iraqis I consider terrorists - but Iraqis themselves are freedom fighters.