I received the following piece from a reader and am posting it in full. Enjoy.

-Sol

What Insurgency?

by Tom Glennon

A recent article in a European news source identified Osama Bin Laden as "A Saudi Dissident". The New York Times has called the arch murderer Zarqawi "A Jordanian Fighter". The BBC, Reuters, a major newspaper in Minnesota, and other news services refuse to use the "terrorist" designations for anyone, lest they offend the sensibilities of murderers. London news services refer to the four men identified with the London bombings as "bombers". Frankly, this wimpy way of describing killers has put me over the edge.

Language can be a very powerful instrument in shaping thought or opinion. That being said, I have been irritated for some time by the use of the words "Insurgency" and "Insurgents", as well as "Militants" and "Fighters" in describing the horrific actions of those persons our military is opposing in Iraq. My dictionary defines insurgent as one who is rising in revolt against a political or governmental authority, or a member of a political party in opposition thereof. I don't think this is accurate in the case of the Iraqi violence against both our own military, as well as the targeting of Iraqi civilian men, women and especially children. I think some other words can better describe the perpetrators of this violence, based on who they are, and their motivation.

Thugs/Gangsters - Those Iraqis who are committing acts of violence against indiscriminate and often innocent targets for money. A fair number of those involved are simply doing it for profit. They are paid to kill.

Psychopaths/Sociopaths - These are at least some of the bombers, assassins and beheaders. They are involved because they enjoy killing and torturing.

Religious Fanatics - Those committed Jihadists who are driven by their version of religion to kill any Infidel, as well as those Muslims who work with or associate with Infidels.

International Terrorists - Those non Iraqis who are there to kill in order to advance their own political or social agendas. Their target is not important, only that more chaos is created.

International Criminals - Those who were involved in the former Baath Regime, and are guilty of crimes against humanity. They fear facing justice.

I am not aware of anyone killed or captured thus far who meets the less inflammatory definition of Insurgent. Political Correctness has become a disease which is not only infecting the media, but our own governmental leaders, who are now using the PC phrases to describe those defective individuals who are killing their fellow humans at an alarming rate.

I would like to see more accurate descriptions of the people involved in these acts of murder, so that we can better understand both their motivations, and the nature of the enemies we face. We should demand the media show some courage by calling these people what they are, rather than the sanitized language now in use.