Why do many Americans refer to those fighting in Hezbollah as terrorists?

Question

I don't agree with their actions or sympathize with their cause. I just think to call anyone involved with Hezbollah a "terrorist" is misleading, considering their guerilla warfare tactics. Does any Muslim with a weapon qualify as a terrorist?

Even if Hezbollah was behind terrorist attacks in the 80's, why would that mean those fighting in Hezbollah today are terrorists?

Answer 1

These people's answers are so frustrating. I really am losing hope in the world. Please, PLEASE...don't just talk...


THINK!!!!

DO RESEARCH!!!

This person's question implies that he has a brain...that he's not directly quoting anybody...that he's pondering the situation outside of an entertainment setting. Isn't that cool? Look up to him!!

Answer 2

No, not every Muslim with a gun is a terrorist, they could be in a legit ARMY or NAVY of a country. The very fact that Hezbollah does not wear uniforms is in and of itself a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

Answer 3

'Cos according to US ,Canada and Israel Hezbollah it's a terrorist organization...Those are the only countries in the world that have qualified Hezbollah as terrorists...The rest of the world sees them as resistance fighters...

Answer 4

Hezbollah kill innocent people in the name of Allah. They are branded Islamic Terrorists because they create and spread terror. Any Muslim who kill innocent people whether they are using weapons or blowing themselves up are called "Islamic Terrorists". Their family members who encourage and support what they do are also terrorists.

Answer 5

Our government calles Hezbollah a terrorist group because that group is bent on destroying Israel.

Answer 6

In agreement with all these other statements, what also makes them terrorists is their sick way of hiding behind innocent women and children, forcing attacks on civilian neighborhoods. You've heard the interviews...everyone of these men are well stocked in their homes and are waiting for the call to arms. That is terrorism.

Answer 7

For the record - some of the people on this forum need to learn how to research subjects they obviously know little or nothing about other than the convenient retoric being espoused by the Bush administration to suit its purposes:

The Hezbollah (Arabic: حزب الله‎ ḥizbu-llāh[1], meaning Party of Allah) is a Lebanese Islamist Shiite organization and political party[2][3], with a military arm and a civilian arm [4]. It was officially founded on the 16th of Feburary, 1985 when Sheik Ibrahim al-Amin declaired the groups manifesto. The publication of the manifesto was timed to coincide with the anniversary of Ragheb Harb's death. [5]. with the declared aim to fight the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon[6] that lasted until 2000[7]. Hezbollah is currently led by its Secretary General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Hezbollah, a resistance group, was inspired by the success of the Islamic Revolution in Iran [8]. It was formed by the Ayatollah Khomeini's followers in the early eighties to spread Shia revolution[8][9][10], and to combat Israeli occupation following the 1982 Lebanon War [8]. Hezbollah views Israel as a whole as "an illegal usurper entity, which is based on falsehood, massacres, and illusions" [11], and follows a distinct version of Islamic Shia ideology developed by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.[12]

Along with the Amal Movement, Hezbollah is the main political party and military organization representing the Shia community, Lebanon's largest religious bloc.[13] It is also a recognized political party in Lebanon, where it has participated in government.[14] The civilian wing participates in the Parliament of Lebanon, taking nearly 11% of the seats (14 out of 128) and the bloc it forms with others, the Resistance and Development Bloc, 27.3% (see Lebanese general election, 2005). It is a minority partner in the current Cabinet. [citation needed]

Hezbollah not only has armed and political wings but also boasts an extensive social development programme. The civilian wing also runs hospitals, news services, and educational facilities. Its Reconstruction Campaign ('Jihad al-Bina') is responsible for numerous economic and infrastructural development projects in Lebanon.[15][16] The group currently operates at least four hospitals, 12 clinics, 12 schools, and two agricultural centres that provide farmers with technical assistance and training. It also has an environmental department and an extensive social assistance programme. Medical care is also cheaper than in most of the country's private hospitals and free for Hezbollah members.[4] Most experts believe that Hezbollah's social and health programmes are worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually.[4] Hezbollah mainly gets its money from donations. It is widely thought that Hezbollah receives financial help from Iran and Syria, although Iran denies this[17], and Hezbollah denies receiving aid from Syria.[4]

Throughout most of the Arab and Muslim worlds, Hezbollah is highly regarded as a legitimate resistance movement.[18] According to a poll released by the "Beirut Center for Research and Information" on 26 July during 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, 87 percent of Lebanese support Hezbollah's fight with Israel, a rise of 29 percent on a similar poll conducted in February. More striking, however, is the level of support for Hezbollah's resistance from non-Shiite communities. Eighty percent of Christians polled supported Hezbollah along with 80 percent of Druze and 89 percent of Sunnis.[19]

The Lebanese government confirmed it as a legitimate resistance against occupation.[20][21] 74 percent of Christian Lebanese viewed Hezbollah as a resistance organization.[22]

The United States, Canada and Israel consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization, claiming that the organization initiates attacks against civilians and ideologically supports such attacks by other similar organizations.

Answer 8

not every muslim owning a weapon is neccesarily a terrorist, if they support hezbollah and are using that weapon to support hezbollah then hell yeah they're terrorist, f*ck em

Answer 9

One of the main characteristics of Terrorism is targetting civilians and military combatants non-discrimately...

When the US and Israeli solders fight, we don't purposely go after civilians and kill anyone randomly.

Hezbollah and other Terrorists groups kill anyone. Suicide bombers actually prefer killing civilians... That's why they blow themselves up in the coffeshops and buses.

As such terrorists don't follow the rules of engagement. They are not freedom fighters either, like the underground fighters against Nazis during WW2.

Answer 10

We call them terrorists because we remember the 1980's:

In 1982, at the request of the Lebanese government, the United States established a peacekeeping force between Muslims and Christians in Beirut.

And this was the thanks we got:


http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/terror.htm

http://www.americanmemorialsite.com/beirutembassy.html

http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/1191/9111040.htm

Answer 11

Because they don't represent a government. If you are a non-state actor and you use force against civilians, then you are a terrorist. Of course, one man's terrorist in another man's freedom fighter.