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Trotsky A number of Brits? by that you mean me I take it? And I wasn't expressing a view about Ireland, I was in fact trying to explain to Shrike what happens when you try to oppress a population into submission, and further to that I was attempting to explain to GBA and so forth about the absurdity of their position regarding the position some countries are taking regarding refusal to engage with "terrorists". Subsequent to that you've insulted me.

Trotsky, your #29 was very good and gives me opportunity to post it here.

A few classic examples for you of what happens when you attempt to brutalise a population into submission. 1916, Easter rising against British rule in Ireland, a complete and utter military disaster on the part of the rebels, they alienated the civilian population, killed more civvies than British soldiers and cause untold damage to the city of Dublin. In fact the majority of the Irish population at the time were only too happy for law and order to be restored. After shambolic Military tribunals, 16 of the "ring leaders" were executed, one, James Connelly was strapped to a chair because he was dying of septicemia from wounds received during combat. From the sheer brutality of the executions the ranks of the old IRA swelled. 1920, the Black and Tans, and the Auxiliaries are deployed in Ireland to support the RIC against ever increasing and violent anti-British sentiment in Ireland. After a campaign of nothing short of ethnic cleansing in parts, the tactics and methods of the IRA became more violent and the volume of attacks increased. The ranks of the IRA swelled to a still unparalleled level. The King of England even expressed his sheer disgust at the behaviour 1981/82, the Hunger strikes in HMP Maze, in Northern Ireland, Maggie is reported to have said let them starve. Huge upsurge in political violence in NI as a result.

He might remember Bobby Sands and the other nine who starved themselves to death one after another. Their deaths were the turning point in the peace we have in Ireland today. From then the ballot box was as important as the gun. The last stage was needing only the ballot box. Maggie came very close to paying with her life. Poor Mo never got just recognition.

Then there was Bloody Sunday, which gained more recruits for he IRA than any event.

These are just specific examples from my own country. France and Indochina in the 50's, France and Algeria in the 60's are just more examples. You're mob are set to repeat the mistakes of the past all over again. This is a fucking recruitment drive for Hezbollah and Hamas. Your leaders are so bitter and twisted they can't see they're biting off their noses just to spite their faces. Nobody but the mildly deluded are suggesting appeasement, but for fuck sake man, open your eyes and take a look at what you're doing? How many militants have been killed? 20? 30? maybe 50? The majority of the casualties are the same on both sides, civvies, they're the ones who are being bombed and shelled out of their homes if they're lucky.

Your point about Israel is totally valid.

The Israeli war-party is leading them to destruction. That destruction need not be militarily, although Hezbullah and Hamas are deadly in a fair fight. The real destruction will be economically. The US and Israel believe this disturbance will stop whenever they decide. It only takes the odd rocket to upset the apple cart. I don't see the Micosofts staying about. The Lebanon didn't have any to lose. After Israel is finished destroying it, why should the Lebanon worry about Israel.