in·sur·gent (n-sûrjnt)

ADJECTIVE:

1. Rising in revolt against established authority, especially a government.
2. Rebelling against the leadership of a political party.

re·sis·tance (r-zstns)

NOUN:

3. often Resistance An underground organization engaged in a struggle for national liberation in a country under military or totalitarian occupation.

Given the definitions above it would appear that “resistance” would be a subset of an “insurgency”. In other words use of the word INSURGENT (a noun by the way) would not necessarily be opposed to those Insurgents being involved in a resistance movement, especially where the government involved is viewed as an imposed one.

But I don’t think there is a convenient word for a “member of the resistance”…”Resistant?”

But admittedly the term insurgent could include others that have different goals than merely expelling occupiers and their puppet government. Insurgents could be people involved in attacks against the government because it is Shiite-dominated, or because it has ambitions that differ from that of the “insurgents” independent of whether it was imposed by the occupiers. This could be because they INCLUDE Sunnis or Kurds, or they want to establish Salafism, or return to Baathism.

The idea that once the United States military leaves that the “insurgency” will dissolve and all will be the land of milk and honey is a very naive one. There are deep sectarian and political rifts in Iraq, and there is a vacuum of a political system that can translate that into non-violent expression and negotiation. The US military presence exacerbates those divisions, certainly. But the antagonisms will continue.

Those involved in the “resistance” will turn to other enemies.

there is a great MLK quote- I don’t have it exactly, but something like ‘the arc of history is long, but it bends towards justice’ …

reminds me of what you were saying.

there’s an article that had me a bit worried, linked from the Huffington Post:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.c…..ary28.html

What’s ZED mean>

Nothing. Nothing at all.

Change is going to happen, I firmly believe this. But it will be slow. Slower than many folks in U.S. want, and too slow for those who have every right to despise what this country has become.

I don’t believe that enough Americans yet understand what we have become: a country content to invade and occupy other countries. Military bases (in what, 137 countries?)–we just don’t think about what that signifies. An ‘embassy’ the size of the Vatican…unquestioned.

Except for Paul, none of the Republican candidates for President sees anything wrong with this picture or questions the still conventional wisdom that got us into this mess.

none of the Democrats, except longshot Mike Gravel, really have a different paradigm for Mid east meddling and American Imperial hegemony.

being anti-Bush is not some magic palliative that makes you free of the blood that is on our hands collectively as a country.

Remember Kerry running against Bush promising to increase our military footprint and get the job done right?

And of course they are all on record as advocates for “all options on the table” against Iran, Dick Cheney’s very same phrase!

only by stepping outside of the corrupt two party duopoly will you be able to credibly claim to be opposing the imperial war machine that is simply extending the work of Bush I, Bill Clinton, and the Idiot King.

For the record mytrlejune when I accurately and truthfully responded to you by telling you what I as somebody who did a lot of his growing up in Irak and who was just returned from there know would be most Iraki’s response to what you wrote you immediately took that as a personal attack.

You then came over to a site ours which is a site in which Irakis who are living through hell and used language which they as Muslims and Irakis find offensive. One of them replied

But you’re right – brb because I need to find a posting:

I have not read your post as yet. I will though. I want to get this in before they close this one.

I appreciate your thoughts on this string. My replies on the previous threads were not allowed to go through as your post was posted just a comments closed and some others deleted.

No matter, I think we’re on a better path toward communication now with the understanding that we are on the side of peace. I’ve been very much aware of the horrors of what goes on in Iraq and have been for sometime. I’m not sure you understand the sense of hopelessness to end it a large segment of the population has had for years over this. If you are, then fine. I honestly want you to know, I can’t be more horrified, it just isn’t possible.

I hear you. I understand your anger with this country’s crazy government. We have to move forward to end this war. We all agree on that.