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From: tan@ihlpg.UUCP (Bill Tanenbaum)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Afghan rebels and Contras:  a difference
Message-ID: <1709@ihlpg.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 16-Mar-86 22:29:04 EST
Article-I.D.: ihlpg.1709
Posted: Sun Mar 16 22:29:04 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 17-Mar-86 22:29:45 EST
References: <1466@decwrl.DEC.COM> <34@gilbbs.UUCP> <1694@ihlpg.UUCP> <72@gilbbs.UUCP> <1705@ihlpg.UUCP> <517@umich.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
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> >[Me]
> >Why are the Contras and Savimbi terrorists and the Afghans not terrorists?
-------------------
> [Paul Torek]
> I don't know about Savimbi, but I question your comparison between the Contras
> and the Afghan resistance.  To my knowledge, the Afghans direct their violence
> at the Soviet occupying forces and the remnants of the Soviet-installed Afghan
> government's army.  I have not heard any reports of intentional slaughter of
> civilians by the Afghans (this doesn't necessarily mean that it doesn't happen,
> but I haven't seen any evidence that it does).
> I cannot say the same for the Contras.
------------------
First, I'm glad that you understood my point correctly, and did not assume
that I think the Contra cause is as justified as that of the Afghan Resistance.
	The intentional slaughter of civilians has
probably occurred on both sides of every protracted war in modern times,
especially civil wars and guerrilla wars.   No matter how justifiable their
cause, nor how much worse the Soviets have done to them,  I cannot believe
that no such incidents have occurred among the Afghans.  After all, some
small number of Afghan civilians do support the Afghan puppet govenment.
Also, the guerrillas are divided into five or six separate factions, often
hostile to each other.
	My point was simply the following:
	In the absence of war, it is fairly easy to recognize terrorism.
In the presence of guerrilla war, it becomes more difficult.  I don't
doubt that the Contras have deliberately killed innocent civilians.
It is quite proper for opponents of the Contras to point this out.
However, have you noticed the selectivity shown by both left-wing and
right-wing idealogues in dishing out the term "terrorist" to the side
whose cause they disagree with?   On the right, we have our beloved
President calling the Contras "noble freedom fighters" and the Sandinistas
"terrorists and enemies of humanity".  I mean, at least he could have left
off the "noble".  On the left, we have people
calling the Contras and Savimbi "terrorists", but never using the term
terrorists for "progressive" insurgencies.  It's all enough to make you
want to throw up.
-- 
Bill Tanenbaum - AT&T Bell Labs - Naperville IL  ihnp4!ihlpg!tan