January 24, 2006, - 8:36 am
“Pirates” Again?: Sick of Terrorist Euphemisms
By
The Mainstream Media–dominated by liberals and loathe to call a spade a spade–is constantly searching for new euphemisms and epithets for the word “terrorist.”
In early November, we noted .
Apparently, that is now the euphemism of choice when it comes to thuggish Islamic terrorists off the African Coasts, particularly Somalia (the terrorists have ties to Al-Qaeda, which dominates Somali politics–as our troops discovered when they were sent there).
Over the weekend, the U.S. Navy boarded a cargo ship seized by the “pirates”-terrorists. They arrested the suspects, all of whom were Muslim Somalis and from Mogadishu (Remember Al-Qaeda’s “Black Hawk Down”?). They had a cache of arms and attack ships with rocket-propelled grenade launchers used to attack, commandeer, and capture ships.
Red is not blue. And these are NOT swash-buckling pirates. They are ISLAMIC TERRORISTS. “Militants”, “pirates”, whatever. Still waiting for the day that the press calls them what they are.
Tags: al-Qaeda, Debbie Schlussel, Mogadishu, Somalia, United States Navy
It is essential that these criminals be characterized as “pirates” and not as “terrorists”.
Piracy is unique in that, at international law, all states are permitted (indeed required) to take any countermeasures necessary to stop it. These acts are not restricted to territorial waters, but may also be undertaken in international waters. Thus, anti-piracy measures taken on the high seas will always be legal. The law is less clear in respect of anti terrorist measures.
Even if these Somailis are terrorists, they are also meet the definition of “pirates”; it is preferable, therefore, that they be defined as “pirates”.
Blaise on January 24, 2006 at 9:47 am