'A lot of people think that just one more act of violence will end violence. It never does.'

[bigtree]

Rep. Alan Grayson ‏@AlanGrayson
A lot of people think that just one more act of violence will end violence. It never does.

[qazplm]

1. yeah, not a pacifist.

sometimes violence is necessary. Wish it wasn't, hope we get to the point where it isn't, but yes, sometimes it is. I can think of all sorts of dictators and evils stopped by standing up to them, and yes, violence. Of course, I can also think of all sorts of times where violence was rushed to as a solution where it didn't work. That's how life is, a mixed bag.

[bigtree]

2. I think US military violence in Iraq is a good example of the folly Rep. Grayson speaks of

...Is there any more convincing measure of the folly of US military action in Iraq than the very fact that nothing our forces have done so far there has caused the military to assert that we're making any significant progress in putting down what they first called a rag-tag handful of insurgents? No one can convince me that more US troops, more air attacks are the answer. Did a full scale occupation under Bush protect and defend civilians there any better?

Did we miss the horror of civilian killings all around our occupying troops in Iraq under Bush; all with orders to attack and kill opponents at will? Did we miss the Iraqi family members who lined the river every day to watch the steady flow of dead and bloated bodies in the sad and awful expectation that they could identify one as their own kin?

Is there any more proof of the utter ignorance of a unilateral, escalated U.S. deployment than the virtual silence from the vast majority of the former 'coalition of willing' partners in our opportunistic imperialism? We forfeited any moral justification for responding to insurgencies in Iraq with the force of our military; specifically troops, CIA operatives and drones.

The efficacy and efect of these deployments has been demonstrated counterproductive and dangerously provocative. The only response to the blowback from these deployments our politicians, military, and intelligence operatives seems to be able to manage is more opportunistic militarism, in a never ending cycle of attacks and reprisals. We never account for the blowback, which has been a fostering and fueling of scores more resistant violence than our forces are able to put down. President Obama was correct when he stated that the solution is political in Iraq. He needs to trust his own words and live up to them.

[edhopper]

3. It does sometimes

It was necessary in WWII. Our Revolution is another.
Most times probably not. But to say it never does isn't true.

[bigtree]

4. I agree

[edhopper]

5. But I would rather follow Grayson here

Than "Attack everyone" McGandpa.

[bigtree]

6. I get what he's trying to relate

...he's bound to get some pushback on his blanket statement, though, because of several defining military conflicts where our violence actually did put an end to specific state violence directed against our country and others.

He's absolutely correct, though, when considering our response to these individual acts of terror from individuals and groups who don't associate themselves with any particular nation or nationality.

[H. Cromwell]

7. Sort of like

rioting and burning stores in Ferguson to protest police violence.

[bigtree]

8. no

...that's not only a gratuitous dig at Ferguson protests, it's an inaccurate rationale for the vandalism which was more of an expression of anger and frustration than it was intended to produce any equitable result.

[gratuitous]

9. You mean the same philosophy that brought us ISIS

The same program that brought us ISIS won't rid us of ISIS? Heresy! This is the land of the High Church of Redemptive Violence, and we believe in violence first. Violence last. Violence always and forever!