There is some flux now in the words used to describe the anti-American forces in Iraq.
It seems the word 'resistance' has become quite common in many media and on many blogs, though some people still use 'terrorists' or 'baathists' or 'deadenders'. Today Danish State Radio used the word 'partisans', which has some connotations (at least to me) of people fighting Nazi occupation in Europe in the 40s. The word is often used here about the Greek, Jugoslav and Italian resistance movements.
'Resistance movements' or 'partisans' fight a legal or justifyable war, while 'terrorists' are criminals.
Not everybody agreed with the cause of the Jugoslav partisans of Tito, but their fight against Nazi Germany was valid and acceptable. They had a right to fight for their cause. Of couse the Nazis saw them as illegal terrorists, but that was only to be expected.
Words mean stuff, and a change from 'terrorists' to 'resistance' or 'partisans' is significant.
When will we see 'freedom fighter' in common use?