The Israeli Offensive
You can draw parallels between the Nepali Maoist guerrillas and the Islamist militants to a degree. The Nepali Maoists started out with the goal of a communist republic. The Islamists think in terms of theocratic governments that have some resemblance to communist dictatorships in terms of how dogmatic they tend to be. Both suggested power flows through the barrel of a gun: violence is the political weapon of choice.
In Nepal's case there was no dearth of people who propagated that there was only a military solution to the Maoist insurgency. (Robert Kaplan Is An American Cowboy) But finally it is the dogged sticking to a political solution that has been working in Nepal. Not only has it been working in terms of peace, but the Maoists who are moving decidedly towards peace have also been the most socially progressive of forces. Attempts to mainstream them politically has made it possible for hitherto suppressed groups to come out and speak up for their rights.
The military solution never made sense, and did not work, only made the situation from bad to worse. The political solution has been working beautifully.
The First Major Revolution Of The 21st Century Happened In Nepal
18 Days Of April Revolution: Victory
Ultimately the solution in the Middle East is political. Military conquest is not possible, and will not cut it. The attempt has to be at a comprehensive peace.
The right wingers think of the Arabs as a lesser people. It is from that ideology that militarism stems. Violence begets violence. They put little emphasis on respectful dialogue. Instead they engage in dialogue formats that are designed to humiliate. And then when the dialogue fails, they act only too trigger happy.
Newt Gingrich and John McCain are on American TV talking in terms of World War III. How could they talk so casually about war? And there are Democrats who think McCain is moderate!
India had its own 7/11. (Mumbai Train Blasts)
I am not suggesting pacifism. And I am not suggesting political negotiations from a position of weakness. But when your entire strategy is military, you have failed even before you have begun.
Destroying Lebanese infrastructure is Israel's idea of attacking the Hezbollah. How idiotic is that? Lebanon's people are getting killed. Israel knows those civilians are innocent. Lebanon's democratic government is getting sidelined when democracy is the answer for every Arab country. So you got to support the nascent ones.
The Unthinkable: Nuclear Weapons Are Not Made To Be Used
Long War
The Larger WMD Question And Iran
Complicated Iraq
The Middle East is a complicated part of the world. And so there are no easy solutions. But for there to be peace, many things have to go right at once, a tall expectation.