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Originally Posted by Brianna
I used the Klan as an example only.
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And your Klan example only demonstrated why the enemy must be properly defined before it can be defeated. An idea that labeling someone as a murderer is sufficient to define an enemy is simply foolish. Some of the world's great leaders were once terrorists or muderers. How can it be? The answer lies first and foremost in understanding the person - the whys behind his motivation. Never make myopic conclusions based only upon his 'headline grabbing' actions. To defeat the enemy in Iraq or in western streets, first, understanding a person beyond just being a bomber maker is essential. What really is his strategic objective? If you cannot answer that, then you have not learned from history AND have no idea who really is the 'evil one'.
How to lie to yourself: know an actor is evil without first understanding the actor as defined above.
What did Sen. Mitchell do that so significantly broke a stalemate between the IRA and the British Government? Learn from history. Just because the IRA set off bombs means the IRA was all evil? Nonsense. As has been stated so many times before, there is no such thing as good and evil. There are many perspectives.
First ask, “What is his strategic objective?” The Klan was easily defeated once the people asked that simple question. If you cannot answer that first and simple question, then you have no idea who the enemy really is. Again, lessons from history. So boring that many of us are doomed to repeat it.