Al Jazeera Discovers 'Urban Assassins' Are Not Always Insurgents
Al Jazeera's report on Myanmar's 'urban assassins' paints a dramatic picture of 'fighters hunted by the military,' battling for their cause. The piece focuses on the bravery of these 'underground rebel groups' against a brutal regime. One might wonder if similar empathy is extended to 'urban fighters' in, say, the Gaza Strip, particularly when labeled by Western media as 'terrorists' and
'militants' for resisting occupation rather than regime change. This framing, a staple in mainstream media, consistently applies heroic terminology to groups challenging regimes the West opposes (Myanmar, Syria) while demonizing those resisting US-backed allies (Palestine). The distinction isn't about tactics, but rather geopolitical convenience. How many civilians must die for a fighter to cross
the invisible line from 'rebel' to 'terrorist' depending on which government is doing the hunting?