At the beginning of the War in Iraq, Iraqi fighters were called soldiers, now they are called insurgent, why?
How can you be labelled as a soldier one day and an insurgent the next?
Propaganda comes to mind...
2007-10-15 05:26:31 · 7 answers · asked by gumtrunk 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Dead simple. George Washington was an insurgent, at least as far as the Brits were concerened. Meanwhile in the colonies he was seen more as a hero and a freedom fighter.
He actually lost seven of the nine battles he fought against the 'Lobsters', but in the end the Brits got fed up and did the usual thing and surrendered.
This has nothing to do with Iraq, you undrstand?
Soldier, Statesman, Freedom Fighter, Patriot, Insurgent. It's all the same thing but depends who is doing the talking, etc!
2007-10-15 05:40:00 · answer #1 · answered by Dragoner 4 · 2⤊ 4⤋
At the beginning of the war the Iraqi Army loyal to Saddam Insane fought in uniforms as the war progressed and they realised they were losing they changed into civilian clothes and choose to fight as insurgents, by doing so they are not covered by the Geneva Convention and it's rules, and risk causing collateral damage to Iraqi civilians because they launch attacks from amongst them.
They, the Insurgents, have also mounted attacks disguised as US and the new Iraqi military and Iraqi police, again something that is not allowed under the Geneva Convention.
American Forces and the new Iraqi Military wear uniforms and are clearly identifiable.
2007-10-15 06:17:18 · answer #2 · answered by conranger1 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
During the Iraq invasion.. we were going against the government/regime sponsored troops that were the official ranks of the Iraqi military
The insurgents are not official military, and not operating for the country of Iraq.. operating with terrorist tactics, terrorist objectives, and not engaging by the rules of war...
big difference
2007-10-15 05:32:28 · answer #3 · answered by DiamondDave 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A soldier is someone who wears a uniform, and has allegiance to the country they are fighting for (normally an identifying flag is REQUIRED). They follow geneva conventions and meet the standards of legal combatants.
Insurgents, however, do not meet the geneva conventions rules. They are illegal combatants. They are non-state operators (have no government support, nor do they support a government themselves). They do not follow geneva conventions either (as in, sometimes they're terrorists -- they attack civilians). In the same way, geneva conventions do not apply to them (no rules for POWs RE: illegal combatants) so it is by our good graces that we even let them enjoy the rights of rules they do not support themselves.
In short, the soldiers of Iraq, many of whom now make up the Iraqi police force, were something admirable... men defending their county and families, despite the fact that they were under a horrible regime. The insurgents are pigs among men, they know no law higher than their own twisted religious views, which ammount to nothing more than a perverse justification to wantonly murder as many innocents as suits their cause.
2007-10-15 05:40:30 · answer #4 · answered by promethius9594 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
A soldier is part of a formal military structure; has to obey orders; can be held accountable for his actions and is commanded by somebody who can be held accountable for the actions of the people he commands.
An insurgent meets none of these requirements.
In fact - it would be more accurate to call the 'insurgents' in Iraq terrorists because they prefer to attack civilians over legitimate military targets.
2007-10-15 05:39:59 · answer #5 · answered by MikeGolf 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
i'm no longer from this united states of america ( i'm from Canada), yet I stay right here now. If yet another united states of america invaded and their armed forces grow to be struggling with on our seashores, i might grab a gun a combat them. i might assume my buddies and kin in Canada, and my sister-in-regulation's kin from Mexico might connect us as properly. i does no longer end till they have left and then i might have fun our victory by using dancing in the streets. i might do in spite of it takes to win. That stated, i think of our squaddies are heros for being keen to combat in what i think of is a difficulty it quite is hopeless. enable's start to hold them homestead. The longer they are there (Iraq) the extra they'll harm and dedicate Haditha (did I spell that astounding) like circumstances. I understand they are nonetheless people and that they are being examined on a on a daily basis foundation. some are sure to snap. enable's carry them homestead, provide them the proper scientific and psychological care we've and supply for them and their households. perhaps shall we bill the companies that are taking good thing about the war.
2016-12-18 08:14:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have answered your own question.
2007-10-15 05:30:20 · answer #7 · answered by amerye950 4 · 0⤊ 5⤋