The Power of Nightmares-Part1

Throughout history people have always overestimated Russia. In the 1800's when the Russians defeated Sweden they became considered a preeminent world power only to have their navies and armies demolished soon after words. The only thing that has ever saved Russia (both from Napoleon and the Nazis) was winter.

Ummm How is that an overstatement? Russia had a huge nuclear arsenal, if they wanted to they could have killed all of us. Even if you think that our view of Russian power was overstated, do you not realize that its always been the case?

Let me get this right... So if someone was repeatedly beating up a friend of yours and there were no cops to stop them, you wouldn't hit them? You would just talk to them?

If it doesn't work on the small scale (ie. someone jumping you) then what makes you think it will work on the large scale? (between nations)

I specifically said institutionalized violence.

Again, if the problem is violence, how does it make sense to solve the conflict with more violence?

The U.S. state has killed more people in the war on terror, than the terrorists have. If violence is the problem, we are causing more of a problem than we are solving.

The individual, and the group are very different things, particularly when "the nation" in question is a coercive institution, rather than a voluntary association.

Also, you never demonstrated that talking out a compromise DOESN'T mitigate conflict. For instance, my aunt once talked her way out of a rape scenario. Clearly non-violent means DO work in individual scenarios. They've also worked in "national" scenarios, see the Indian independence movement that overthrew British rule.

I'm not saying that you HAVE to use non-violent means of conflict resolution. But I am saying that institutionalizing a solution, particularly violence, does not work.

I'm not doubting your honesty but how on earth could she talk her way out of a rape scenario? It never hurts to try to 'talk something out' but when that fails and you are still attacked you must use force. The only reason Gandhi's non-violent method worked is because he was dealing with a level headed democracy, not crazy fundamentalists, and as we all know democracies are much more prone to sue for peace, see the Democratic Peace Theory. I had a personal experience where I was

about to be jumped by three people, did I try to talk it out? You bet I did. Did it work? Hells no. You see talking is by far the best alternative, but often fails, depending on the foe. But you are right in that institutionalizing violence is not a good alternative, but it has to be on the table at all times. This world is not one of More's utopias, if you simply turn the other cheek you won't survive. Speak softly and carry a big stick." - T. Roosevelt.

Here's the thing though, when you institutionalize violence, it's going to be payed for by extortion, taxation, they come to me, and take the resources I have earned voluntarily, and they do it by force. Naturally, this is destructive to the social order.

Now, non-institutional violence will always be on the table, I can't do anything about that, people have free will, so it goes. But at the very least I don't have to fund it.

agreed

some rumors (i dont know) says that usama bin laden is trained by cia ^^