Saturday, May 29, 2004

'Militants' or 'Terrorists'?

Here's the headline and lead paragraph from today's
New York Times' report on the act of violence in
Saudia Arabia:-

At Least 10 Dead as Militants Attack in Saudi Oil Area
By NEIL MacFARQUHAR
CAIRO, May 29 — Gunmen opened fire against a business complex and two residential compounds in Saudi Arabia on Saturday as the series of fatal terrorist attacks in the country reached the heart of its oil-producing region.


My question is, are they "terrorists" or "militants" or "gunmen"?

What's the problem that the NYT finds in calling a person who uses violence against civilians a "terrorist", whether in
Saudi Arabia or Israel?

No comments: