Russia and the US have committed war crimes in their invasions of Ukraine and Iraq respectively, but the general consensus is that their militaries are still not terrorist organizations.
War Crimes != Terrorism. Some acts qualify as both, but words have meanings, and I think it’s important we recognize that. I don’t think the actions of the US in Iran would make a reasonable person say the US Military is a terrorist organization, though they are definitely harbouring some war criminals.
I think the other thing is asking, what’s the value in labelling an organization? Telling your friend with a substance problem that they’re an addict/alcoholic might just drive them away and towards worse influences. Or telling off your toxic coworker might be cathartic, but it’ll probably just make the situation worse.
PS I’m pretty sure labelling the IDF as “similarly abhorrent” isn’t very helpful.
I agree with the part that labeling organizations is mostly pointless, if not harmful. An underlying goal in my intentional conflation here is that the difference is pointless. Hopefully someone read that and was like “huh I guess these two things aren’t all that different”. Governments call the violent armed forces they like “militaries” and the ones they don’t like “terrorists”.
War Crimes != Terrorism. Some acts qualify as both, but words have meanings, and I think it’s important we recognize that. I don’t think the actions of the US in Iran would make a reasonable person say the US Military is a terrorist organization, though they are definitely harbouring some war criminals.
I think the other thing is asking, what’s the value in labelling an organization? Telling your friend with a substance problem that they’re an addict/alcoholic might just drive them away and towards worse influences. Or telling off your toxic coworker might be cathartic, but it’ll probably just make the situation worse.
PS I’m pretty sure labelling the IDF as “similarly abhorrent” isn’t very helpful.
I agree with the part that labeling organizations is mostly pointless, if not harmful. An underlying goal in my intentional conflation here is that the difference is pointless. Hopefully someone read that and was like “huh I guess these two things aren’t all that different”. Governments call the violent armed forces they like “militaries” and the ones they don’t like “terrorists”.