Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (1906)	7/20/2005 10:06:44 AM
From: Constant Reader	Respond to of 540963

I agree. <eom>

To: Lane3 who wrote (1906)	7/20/2005 10:11:16 AM
From: MulhollandDrive	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 540963

You can recognize and understand the grievances without legitimizing, negotiating, or appeasing them indeed, witness the efforts to bring the palistinians into the 'fold' of civilized statehood, and despite that, the terrorist attacks continued (and still do) seems that only building a fence has been relatively successful in hindering the carnage

To: Lane3 who wrote (1906)	7/20/2005 10:33:23 AM
From: Dale Baker	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 540963

It's theoretically possible but rarely works when you face a substantial terrorist movement. Smashing the bad guys is an emotionally satisfying idea but it didn't work for us or the Soviets in Afghanistan, pro-US forces in El Salvador, the Brits in Northern Ireland, the Israelis in Palestinian areas, the Colombians in their own country, the Ethiopians against the Eritreans, the Russians in Chechnya, the Sandinistas against the contras, the Sudanese against their southern rebels, Uganda against the LRA, Morocco against the Saharan rebels and many more too obscure to dredge up right now. Most modern insurgencies either endure for decades and/or finally get defused through some nonmilitary move after a military stalemate is reached. Given the asymmetrical nature of small-group terrorism like Al Qaeda, the prospect of "defeating" it militarily is very remote. The IRA proved that it only takes a few hundred active, determined zealots to keep violence alive, even if thousands of their comrades have been captured or killed before them. Clearly there is a difference of opinion on this issue, and we have beaten it to death. We can revisit it as we see what happens in Iraq - where I would expect some political accommodation with the insurgents within 6-24 months. We shall see. I expect a lot of chest-thumping between here and there.