What is the sharp difference between the terrorists and the freedom fighters?

Question

One man's terrorist is other man's freedom fighter.
But where lies the water dividing line between the two and what is it?
Yasser Arafat was both a terrorist and an exception. So how should we differentiate between the two. I need a lawyer for this laymen head.

Any foolproof definitions...?

Answer 1

There is no difference - it depends what side you're on that's all. Your freedom fighter is my terrorist, simple.

Answer 2

There are no fool proof definitions, this is answered by point of view which is where one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter comes from. Terrorism as defined by law is an act to insight terror, the thing is the law is defined by the government that is in place at the time and as such is biased towards the government opinion. On the other hand the terrorist may see the government as oppressive an against populist opinion and will seek to overthrow it. If the aim is achieved the terrorist become the government and the acts performed by the previous government will be considered as a terror regime against the people. For an idea of how this works look at the overthrow of the Pinochet government in Chillie......

Answer 3

Someone will always justify the actions of these people.

But to be honest, IMHO, if you fight against oppression, not necessarily with guns but through words and deeds, like Gandhiji and Martin Luther King, you can be called a Freedom Fighter.

If you plant bombs in shopping centres or underground trains and kill and main innocent civillians including women and children who have never done anything to you other than be born in the country whose government you have a problem with, then not only are you an evil little murderer but you are a terrorist.

And you will get your just desserts in this world or the next because what goes around comes around.

Answer 4

The individuals opinion is the only deciding factor in the difference between a freedom fighter and terrorist.
Where the law is concerned its what the government thinks is in the country's best interests. They will support some and label others terrorists.

Answer 5

The sharp difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter is that a terrorist fights for no just cause while a freedom fighter fight a just cuase.

Answer 6

One refers to goals, the other refers to means. They are independent.

Freedom fighters have the goal of becoming free -- throwing off control of some govt they do not support. The difference between freedom fighter and insurgent is which side is identifying them. But the goal is the same -- independence.

Terrorists use attacks on civilians to sow chaos, and use terror as a means to achieve their political goals. Whatever those goals happen to be.

Terrorists may ALSO be insurgents (freedom fighters) if they use terrorist methods to achieve the goal of rebellion.

But just because you are seeking to break free from your controlling govt, that doesn't mean you automatically use terrorist methods, or that you attack civilians, or that you attempt to destroy the stability of the country.

And just because some people are using terrorist methods to cause chaos and fear, does not mean they goal is to create their own country or seek independence. Some people just want to harm others.

So, one refers to goals, the other refers to means -- someone can be either, or both, or neither.

Answer 7

common. while they are combating for the liberty of their human beings which many theory the Afghans doing in Afghanistan yet having gained the rustic, they became the rustic right into a genocidal reformatory camp plenty worse the Russian puppet regime ever replaced into. They went from freedom combat to terrorist. additionally, freedom warring parties combat they do no longer kill females and toddlers and desire to win via horror. the yankee revolution replaced into no longer approximately killing the families of folk, they have been approximately pushing the British out of the colonies. Clearlyfreedom warring parties can inflict harm on modern-day armies yet terrorists pick instead to explode college buses and females contained available to purchase nutrition for their fafamilies you do no longer see that and characteristic come to settle for that killing of noncombatants is advantageous and in certainty you will possibly desire to make it look noble and brave. Seven twelve months previous babies on college buses are no longer a great number of of undertaking to your "terrorist/freedom fighter" and adult men on their thank you to their jobs are no longer armed so they are common objectives. Thats the form. once you're saying jap u . s . you advise Boston and the Irish community, thats no longer usa or individuals those are people who're in simple terms hiding out someplace else cuz its secure. no one ever called the Viet Cong terrorists, they werefightingg of their u . s . against a miles off places military. Blowing up workplace homes or inns and focused on unarmed people who have no particular dedication to something is in simple terms cowardly habit.

Answer 8

Its all about what "side" your on. If you torture someone and you wear the old stars and stripes on your sholder, then your a freedom fighter. If you defy the western pig monstrosity of a social structure, your a terroist and thats the brutal, honest truth.

Oh yeah the twit called bert. Keep your arrogent, pathetic comments to yourself you little prick

Answer 9

If they are supported by the US or the West in general, then they are Freedom Fighters. If, however, they are supported by, say, anyone else in the enitre world, then they are Terrorists

Answer 10

There is no foolproof definition.

As of right now, anyone who opposes the advancement of global enterprise, conquest, economy and government is considered a terrorist.

Ask 10 different people, get 10 different answers.

Answer 11

very simple plain strait forward A person that fights in his own country for his own rights is a freedom fighter .The Invading force is what it is a invading force cannot be a freedom fighter.The freedom fighters are them Insurgents if they oppose the invaders in there own Country.If cannot be any different that is the way it is look at the 2nd world war there is your answer