What would happen if....

[aneeshm]

... the Palestinians simply gave up the armed struggle and adopted Gandhian methods of completely non-violent protest? Or if the Iraqis did that to protest against the American presence? This is not to say that I support either group, I'm just tossing this out as a hypothetical that popped into my mind, as a what-if question.

[The diplomat]

Re: What would happen if....

Originally posted by aneeshm
... the Palestinians simply gave up the armed struggle and adopted Gandhian methods of completely non-violent protest? Or if the Iraqis did that to protest against the American presence? This is not to say that I support either group, I'm just tossing this out as a hypothetical that popped into my mind, as a what-if question.

In the case of the Palestinians, I think they would get what they want. If they adopted a non-violent approach, the pressure on Israel to give them an independent State would be too great and Israel would have to acquiesce.

In the case of Iraq, if the Iraqi militias adopted a non-violent approach, I think the US military would leave. Part of the reason, we are still there is to combat the violence and train Iraqis to fight the violence. Without the violence, there would be no reason for our troops to stay.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

The seocnd situation presumes that the violence in Iraq is because of US presence. I think it safe to say it is much more complicated than that.

The rationale for violence in Iraq seems as much if not more so targetted at intra power struggles than violence against foreign oppression.

[Geronimo]

democratic states that (at least) pay lip service to human rights tend to be very vulnerable to such tactics.

It seems that the tremendous difficulty in maintaining an appearance of holding the moral high ground by advocates of continued occupation ends up crippling them so badly that they either lose their power in elections or quietly abandon their previous hardliner stance.

These then are the ideal tactics for driving out such occupiers.

[Zkribbler]

Re: What would happen if....

Originally posted by aneeshm
... the Palestinians simply gave up the armed struggle and adopted Gandhian methods of completely non-violent protest? Or if the Iraqis did that to protest against the American presence? This is not to say that I support either group, I'm just tossing this out as a hypothetical that popped into my mind, as a what-if question.

I too say that such non-violent tactics would be overwhelmingly successful . . . proving that aneeshm is smarter than the leadership of the Palestnians and the leadership of the Iraqi insurgency put together.

[SlowwHand]

It's called ****tingandfallingbackinit. Mass seizures would occur.
The world would tilt on it's axis.

[Nubclear]

I can see how a Texan might not be able to comprehend how nonviolence works. I mean, Texas has a strong history of violence: First violence against Mexico, and then violence against the United States of America.

[SlowwHand]

And don't forget it, buckwheat.

[Zkribbler]

The Motto of Texas:

Shoot first and don't bother to ask questions, ever.

[Pekka]

But it won't happen. There's already a culture of celebrating death rising (celebrating martyrs), and behind it is politically motivated people, organized people etc. For them to stop, you'd need to see an overwhelming condemning from the general population... so... I think it won't happen.

[Zkribbler]

Although Gandhi went on a hunger strike once to force Hindus and Muslims to stop fighting. ...And they did.

We shall not see the likes of him again.

[Pekka]

You wanna see someone go to hunger strike for any given conflict to stop? I don't, live suicide doesn't seem like entertainment to me.

Yes, where do he have those people these days.. oh wait, I know! If they are on vacation, they go to Thailand, if they are caught, they go to jail... pedophilia is a crime.

Other places you might find them.. hmm.. well, they are usually running all over the world, draft dodgers, silly wussies, or you might find them developing some kind of illness eating tofu all day long and nothing else. So there.

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
Although Gandhi went on a hunger strike once to force Hindus and Muslims to stop fighting. ...And they did.

We shall not see the likes of him again.

Don't mention Gandhi in Pekka's presence

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by LordShiva
Don't mention Gandhi in Pekka's presence

Maybe I should take him out behind the Apolyton House and hit him repeated in the head with a frying pan until he sees the virtue of non-violence.

[Pekka]

I see it! non-violence is great, and it WOULD work in Palestine if everyone truly commited to it. If you'd attack people who are sitting on the ground and singing songs, I mean.. yuo can do that, but you will never be the good guy int he eyes of the public. Of course it works in certain situations.

But I disagree Gandhi being a good guy. I'm nto saying that the thing with India was stupid, it wasn't. They got their freedom from those bastard colonialists, so, there's nothing bad about that. Only Gandhi sucks hairy backs.