edwhit

From what I've heard, day to day life always included the possibility of being killed or worse. I'm sure they were used to it. I'll grant you that. But the average person was not safe. You can tolerate what you can not stop I suppose.

He needed removed from power I have no doubt in my head. The correct and most efficient way of doing this however eludes me. I have heard countless arguments on both sides. But I'll grant you this, there is no peace and serenity there yet.

I am reminded of somewhat similar accurances in Russia. Similar at least in the fact that they were afraid to say the wrong thing in public for fear of being shot. They were afraid almost all the time. They got used to it but they were afraid. It was a way of life. Perhaps fear is not even the right word. They constantly had to look over their shoulder and attempt to avoid drawing attention to themselves for fear the KGB would decide they should be punished for whatever bogus idea they could make up.

When the wall came down and the KGB split up there was a lot of problems. Economic and violence not being the least of these problems. But when talking to my friends in Russia I kept hearing the same thing, "We will not go back to a dictator. We will not allow it!"

Of course a couple of major differences in these two scenarios is that the people wanted change and were willing to do something about it and we were not occupying the country.

I do believe that as long as we are occupying the country there will be increased violence. However, I'm not sure I see an alternative right now. Unless you want to argue to take more troops for the moment. Regardless, I see no easy answers now.