What is the difference between a 'terrorist' and an 'insurgent'?

Question

People keep asking "If the US invaded, wouldn't you fight the invader?"

Yes, most of us would probably fight. Insurgent.

No, most of us wouldn't bomb our own malls and kill our catholic or protestant neighbors. Terrorists.

That is education. No more inept analogies!

Answer 1

An insurgent is a combatant fighting against military personel.

A terrorist kills civilians.

Answer 2

Good points but not applicable to Iraq.



The term insurgent was given to the terrorists in Iraq by the media since they do like the word terrorist, it is derogatory and would make it look like America was right to be there, thus insurgent or freedom fighter.



Since the majority of people killed by the terrorists in Iraq are Iraqi it would appear they are not fighting invaders but are killing innocent civilians, thus are terrorists.



Additionally, the terrorists in Iraq, are not all from Iraq, so perhaps not only are they terrorists, they are also invaders.



Hows that for inept.

Answer 3

First, this question is fairly complicated. solid question with the aid of how. 2nd, i'm answering this question outdoors of the social atmosphere to the place those words are getting used. collectively as, the tip purpose of terrorists can be particularly political. the tip purpose of the terrorist act itself is to reason terror. And, terrorists desire to apply the media to their benefit. With terrorists, harmless actually everyone seems to be honest interest. Insurgents, are a small protection stress sort team of persons. who's assaults are actually not finally terror oriented, yet are aimed in direction of disabling the conflict features of the objective. harmless actually everyone isn't focused, yet could be seen as collateral injury. ok... yet, those are very elementary definitions; and the definition of those words are nonetheless being debated with the aid of scholars. numerous the time, the term "terrorist" is used as government propaganda. So, interior the tip, collectively as they do have distinctive meanings in at present's context; the social atmosphere will dictate how those words are used and utilized.

Answer 4

A nineteenth century political philosopher pointed out that the difference between treason" and "patriotism" was a matter of history. That is easier to understand when one remembers that it is usually the victors who write the influential historical studies. Basically a "terrorist" is a violent political/ethnic/religious opponent. An insurgent is a violent political/ethnic/religious/ activist with whom one agrees. However the past shows many occasions when "insurgents" have lost support by the use of excessive violence, and come to be rejected by former supporters.

In the end the answer to your question is a matter of semantics.

Answer 5

Terrorist: One that engages in acts or an act of terrorism. Terrorism being described as the unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.

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

There you go without me adding my personal opinion - just the plain definitions - Both of these terms are misused daily not just on this forum but by the media and many politicians also. -k-

Answer 6

There are, of course, the accepted denotations of both words, but the media and politicians/cultures have found ways to meld both for their own purposes. I suppose that is the root of your question.



Yet, consider this: How does an "insurgent" actually fight *for* his country by murdering his own innocent countrymen? Is that patriotism, to blow up a truck with chlorine gas in a crowded marketplace? Can that possibly be construed as anything but terrorism? I doubt it.



If one is an "insurgent," I expect that one would fight for one's country *with* one's countrymen, and would reject those from other countries, who obviously have a power agenda of their own.

Answer 7

Firstly - Terrorism is a term used to describe violence or other harmful acts committed (or threatened) against civilians by groups or persons for political or ideological goals.



Insurgent - is an armed uprising, or revolt against an established civil or political authority. - Insergents engage in regular or guerrilla combat against the armed forces of the established regime, or conduct sabotage and harassment in the land in order to undermine the government's position as leader; the government established by an invading force counts as "collaborators"



Insergents could be seen as revolutionaries -arguably a terrorist in our eyes could be seen as an insurgent by others.

Answer 8

the term have to applicable in iraq. US invade iraq!!



They destroy, conquer, taking control some of most vital and profitable source of income the people of iraq. they even taking profit in rebuilding iraq. they foreigner to iraqi people. they accused iraqi people having a weapon of mass destruction, yet they possessed the nuclear weapon.



like it or not the nuclear they have has been use since WWII as "ace card" in negotiation on world level. (treathen other country).



America an invader? yes.

America are terrorist? couldn't say other than that.



I do not have any quarrel with the US government but we should shout out loud what we think, don't we?

Answer 9

Call it what you have to to get you through the night but a terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it's probably a duck.

Answer 10

They are terrorists. Insurgent is a fluffy term that was surely created to make describing them in a more fluffy, cute, and misleading manner.

Answer 11

in·sur·gent

–noun

1.a person who rises in forcible opposition to lawful authority, esp. a person who engages in armed resistance to a government or to the execution of its laws; rebel.

2.a member of a section of a political party that revolts against the methods or policies of the party.



ter·ror·ist

–noun

1.a person, usually a member of a group, who uses or advocates terrorism.

2.a person who terrorizes or frightens others.



ter·ror·ism

–noun

1.the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.

2.the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.

3.a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government.



The difference lies in the method and intent. Insurgents use conventional weapons to attempt to accomplish a goal while terrorists use fear as their main weapon and use conventional weapons to spread said fear. Insurgents are more likely to focus efforts on uniformed personnel and terrorists are more likely to focus on civilians.

Answer 12

insurgents are supposed to be ppl from the same country they re fighting. our media labeled all opposition fighters insurgents even though they re funded and sent from syria, iran,.... to make it sound like a civil war.

Answer 13

A terrorist attacks civilians, while insurgents is a small force thats attacks Military personnel.

Answer 14

Depends on whose viewpoint you have. Using the US Government's official definition of terrorism, the men who took part in what we historically call the "Boston Tea Party" were all terrorists.

Answer 15

one runs on unleaded, the other on diesel

Answer 16

Oh.... um ......, the spelling!