There is no clear delineation between freedom fighters and terrorists. Almost all terrorist groups are started because of some sort of injustice being carries out against their people. The Taliban for example, started because the soviets were brutally occupying Afghanistan. So you could say the Taliban were fighting for afghan freedom, but obviously they are also a terrorist group. The same can be said about the IRA. Their goal was to gain Irish freedom from Great Britain so by definition they are freedom fighters. But if you look at the tactics they used to accomplish their goals like bombing hotels and restaraunts and killing innocent people, they are also a terrier group
Their aim was that Northern Ireland was administered by the Irish Republic rather than the UK.
To argue that they were freedom fighters you would need to argue that the Irish Republic was significantly freer than the UK.
While in general the two imposed much the same degree of restrictions upon their citizens, at the time when the IRA were most active in the 1970's and early 1980's, there were some specific ways in which the IR was more authoritarian than the UK. Irish law has changed since, but in 1975:
- abortion was illegal in the IR
- contraception was illegal except for married couples.
- divorce was very restricted
- gays and lesbians were subject to legal discrimination.
For people who might be affected by the above, arguably success by the IRA would have resulted in less freedom.
Was IRA freedom fighters or Terrorists?
Since 1939 the IRA, and their successors, the Provisional IRA and the "Real" IRA have been carrying out bombing campaigns on mainland UK. Had their targets been military then you could call them, "Freedom Fighters", but, they blew up clubs, hotels, pubs, public gatherings, public utilities, mail sorting offices, shops, shopping malls, and tube stations as well, they are terrorists.
Up to 1922 Freedom Fighters
From 1922 up to today Just Terrorists trained by iran the cause has failed But they have the Blood Lust and Just Like Killing English Babies
and when that failed went to Holland and Murdered 2 Australians on Holiday
Very simple. N. Ireland was already free so bombing thousands of innocent civilians to make them free was impossible. Freedom fighters do not target innocent civilians like the IRA did. Now known as the worlds thickest terror group the IRA failed as they never understood you simply cannot murder people to make them change nationality. Thick.
The IRA openly spport ISIS and Al Quada . Enough said.
Is a Pit Bull a guard dog or an attack dog? That depends upon which side of the fence you're on. Freedom Fighter? Terrorist? Both!
Are the ISIS freedom fighters or terrorist? Same thing, in my book the IRA were/are murdering terrorists
Originally, the IRA were freedom fighters. Eventually, most of Ireland was given independence. However, the majority in Northern Ireland wanted to stay as part of UK with England, Scotland and Wales.
The IRA ignored the wishes of the majority and bombed and shot anybody who disagreed with them. The CIA investigated them and found that they were involved in criminal activity, linked to Colombian drug cartels and involved in international terrorism through Libya.
Terrorists.
This is a matter of semantics.
In my opinion, freedom fighters don't target civilians, whereas terrorists do.
