Comments on: The End of the Tamil Tigers or the End of Tamil Separatism?

By: steve

steve — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:35:37 +0000

Obviously not a crowd that reads COIN theory. At any rate, if the Sri Lankan government can prove itself competent without too much overt corruption, they may avoid another real insurgency. Ending the war this way leaves them vulnerable. Remember the population judges the insurgency by its words and the government by its actions, roughly paraphrasing Galula. A strong, well functioning government will undercut the development of a new insurgency. A government dedicated to revenge will probably give cause for a new one.

Steve

By: Bithead

Bithead — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:20:48 +0000

LOL! Well played, sir, and worthy of Scrappleface, or IowaHawk. Your point is well taken, indeed.

By: MSarC

MSarC — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:59:28 +0000

Now that the Sri Lankans have achieved an overwhelming military victory against an insurgent force, it's time for all right-thinking Western Nations to lecture Sri Lanka about the deprivations of Tamil human rights and the need for a workable two-state solution.

Therefore I suggest that Sri Lanka should pull back to their pre-offensive borders to prove their bona-fide desire for peace. This may have the side effect that the Tamils will re-arm, but that's a small price to pay for long-term peace. It's also a sure fire recipe to alleviate the poverty of the Tamils, which, as we well know, is the root cause of all this never-ending strife.

I guarantee you I can predict that the Sri Lankans and Tamils will then live together in peace.

By: Eric Florack

Eric Florack — Mon, 18 May 2009 02:09:27 +0000

The concern for civilians, Steve, is understandable , and quite correct. At the same time it seems logical to raise the question how many of these "civilians" are in fact Tamil, in plain clothes.

By: steve

steve — Mon, 18 May 2009 01:52:50 +0000

It is hard to find good reporting from there, but my concern is the reports of civilian casualties as the army tries to finish off the Tigers "once and for all." If the reports are true, they seem to be risking a new generation of insurgents.

Steve

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:36:40 +0000

I’d like to throw on the table: what should be the role of Western governments in the resolution?

I'd say butt out, but investigate war crimes if there are accusations. As an isolated conflict the west has no real justification for intervention, except in the case of crimes against humanity, which by definition, constitute a crime against the west.

By: The End Of The Tiger? « Around The Sphere

The End Of The Tiger? « Around The Sphere — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:39:20 +0000

[...] Dave Schuler looks to the future: Among the many possible ways in which events in Sri Lanka may develop, three seem to me to be the most likely: [...]

By: The Moderate Voice

The Moderate Voice — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:03:47 +0000

Seemingly Invincible Tamil Tigers Declare Defeat Amid Report Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran Dead...

After waging a 26 year battle to carve out their own homeland, the once seemingly invincible Tamil Tigers have admitted defeat in their bloody fight against the Sri Lanka government.
The latest report: the Tamil Tigers’ leader Velupillai Prabhaka...