If We Can't Use the Word "Terrorist," Is "Massacre" O.K.?

The same Western media who are squeamish about using the word "terrorist" to describe the animals who deliberately detonate bombs in crowds of men, women and children (and who instead have scrubbed the terrorists clean into value-neutral "insurgents") seem to have no problem at all calling the Haditha deaths a "massacre."  This despite the fact that not all the facts about the Haditha incident are even known yet (a defense lawyer claims that the marines were fired upon).

As Gateway Pundit points out, apparently a slaughter of innocent men, women and children is ONLY a "massacre" IF it's done by United States Marines -- or, I would add, by soldiers of any decent nation fighting terrorists.

It's intellectually dishonest to give terrorism a pass while screaming bloody murder -- literally -- over what appears to be isolated incidents of wrongdoing by those fighting against terrorism.  And because whitewashing terrorism with "value-neutral" terms only serves to support, aid and abet routine, deliberate massacres of innocent civilians by homicide bombers and their ilk, it is also contemptible.

Comments

[Scot Quaranda]

Gone are the days of the term guerilla as well. There was a certain romantic quality about it, I would say that it equated to "freedom fighters." Now all guerillas and freedom fighters are terrorists. Also, massacre can and should be used to describe the mass murder of innocent people.

[DANEgerus]

Even if 'true' this incident is the exception and not the rule and should be represented as exactly that... a lapse to otherwise heroic and exemplary behavior.

And... even if 'true' it is a war-crime to target, as well as hide behind, civilians so the TERRORISTS are still responsible for creating the environment within with this sort of excess might happen.

But if 'false'... if it's just another "wedding" story...

Pardon me if I don't shed tears for the next member of the MSM to be killed by... 'insurgents'...

The irony of CNN's Eason Jordan accusing the American military of targeting "journalists", some of whom have collaborated in staged hostage-hoaxes to earn terrorists ransom money, still doesn't allow me to feel any real sympathy.