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Peace or Rebellion - Rule of Law or Anarchy - Which is Necessary for Survival of Societies
Reader comment on item: Must Counterinsurgency Wars Fail?

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Sep 18, 2008 at 13:28

At the basic core, insurgencies are nothing more than organized (or in some instances, loosely ordered) rebellion against the nominal governmental control of a region or state. Representational to the reasons for a minority group to resist the status quo of any government is the ability to convince an otherwise contentedly governed people that their lot in life is no longer enough, thereby influencing rebellion, indeed, revolution. Thus, for example, the Marxist influences in old Russia rallied the worker population against the Tsarist regime, eventually promoting insurgencies that resulted in the October 1917 overthrow of the Tsar.

In today's context, we see an underlying influence of an ideology that ironically, is contraindicative to a historical situation that religion has always been seen as a help, or hindrance to politics. From the Egyptian Pharaoh being seen as a Deity governing his subjects by divine authority, to the governments today declaring governance devoid of divine control whatsoever, there has been relatively little calm in most of the world's nations and regions, except where the people felt content in their government's ability not to overly interfere and to let them live in peace. Enemies to that are the malcontents that have little to make them content and are not willing to allow others their stake. Anarchy frequently becomes the expression of their bitterness, but anarchy is just a tool of that expression, for it cannot bring about any calm or contentment.

In that light, we see that many within the realm of Islamic ideology have that underlying sense of malcontent, and use their own view of Islam to form a reason for their cause of discontent. To provide a point of focus, Israel becomes a target. Why not; for Israel survives the world's most deviant attempt at genocide against Jewish people in Europe, and in no small fashion, re-establish their nation in the land of their ancient heritage. How can the peoples of the ‘Palestinian' cause not be envious of such a thing? They can't. Hence, under the influences of the Islamic ideology of the Arabic heritage, the insurgency of the Middle East flourishes, here, there, anywhere that cause is embraced and supported, even at a national level from a sympathetic state.

As has been surmised elsewhere, counterinsurgencies have their only chance of winning by defeating the ideology. The problem in this case is that the ideology in question has a much deeper rooted base of support, and a much more developed alliance with powers that would bargain away the contentment of a world desperately wanting some kind of peace, even if it means submission to a mindset that leads to domination.

The best source of determining how this has developed, since the situation is religiously based, is the Holy Bible. To understand the contravening ideology in the current context, others will have one refer to the Quran. However, the insurgencies already use the Quran as the underlying source of their ideology and claim their guidance from it. Its influences are growing, and as may be speculated, if unabated, will eventually surpass the Christian influences that which may be found in the western societies. It would be no surprise to those who have a disciple's relationship with Jesus Christ, that the Holy Bible has already dealt with this subject and true Christians are expecting fulfillment of the pertinent passages at any time.

In such instances where there might be interludes of quelling insurgencies for a duration, ultimately, it will require divine intervention of the LORD Almighty God of Israel to quell the insurgencies they face, and to provide their ultimate peace; for after all, it is His plan book that governs Israel's destiny, just He plans to govern the world from Jerusalem.


Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.

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Reader comments (83) on this item

Title By Date
The gap between Tribal Culture and the way that the West Thinks About Counterinsurgency [233 words]Sam StolzoffMay 23, 2009 15:08
Must counter insurgency wars fail? [44 words]joeNov 7, 2008 09:03
British experience. [221 words]DixonOct 25, 2008 22:45
This is a Truth Regarding the Insurgencies [557 words]M. ToveyOct 7, 2008 19:44
What provocation? [344 words]NuraOct 11, 2008 19:42
Misdirected Comments Cannot Hide the Truth - the Provocation is Already There [655 words]M. ToveyOct 13, 2008 19:02
Nura fails to present the truth [354 words]InfidelOct 13, 2008 19:37
Re: Misdirected comments [2843 words]NuraOct 16, 2008 19:00
The Righteous Branch - Yeshua HaMashiach [325 words]M. ToveyOct 20, 2008 12:02
No truth!!! [180 words]MansoorOct 1, 2008 22:45
Ask Jesus to save you ... [37 words]PDMOct 3, 2008 19:59
islam=submission (and that is not for me) [118 words]j. turnerOct 4, 2008 11:19
Karzai calling Mullah Omar "his Brother" [96 words]Mark BlackmanOct 5, 2008 00:02
Mansoor, the fools pond [39 words]InfidelOct 5, 2008 15:08
Turning the table!! [117 words]MansoorOct 6, 2008 08:01
I am happy!! [10 words]MansoorOct 6, 2008 08:04
Mansoor in Pakistan [119 words]Kafir911Oct 7, 2008 09:56
Drama unfolds!!! [230 words]MansoorOct 7, 2008 23:53
no comment [134 words]realJan 15, 2009 16:39
legitimacy wins such a war [211 words]the libertineOct 1, 2008 17:48
Insurgencies are the Precursors - It Takes World Power to Dominate the World [665 words]M. ToveySep 23, 2008 16:48
Re Must counterinsurgencies wars fail [124 words]Gabby (from Australia)Sep 23, 2008 00:48
Make 'em stand up [72 words]Joe Six-PackSep 19, 2008 12:28
Joe 36-Pack [52 words]adnan khanOct 5, 2008 00:08
adnan khan [73 words]btillyOct 6, 2008 14:51
Its very hard to compare different insurgencies... [194 words]CadwallonSep 18, 2008 20:23
Two can play at that game. [16 words]MontySep 18, 2008 18:11
⇒ Peace or Rebellion - Rule of Law or Anarchy - Which is Necessary for Survival of Societies [619 words]M. ToveySep 18, 2008 13:28
NO CLEAR VICTORY BUT MORE DEFEAT WITH WRONG STRATEGIES ! [965 words]TTSSep 17, 2008 21:54
TTS [14 words]InfidelSep 25, 2008 15:22
In order to defeat any enemy, we have to understand its ideology [694 words]HowardSep 17, 2008 18:40
winning against islamic terrorists. [29 words]hariSep 17, 2008 02:22
The main war is not militarily [190 words]Shial InquilabSep 16, 2008 16:22
O.K., NOW I'M MAD [123 words]jennifer solisSep 17, 2008 23:29
Take Knowledge in the Truth of Why People Hate the United States - [574 words]M. ToveySep 29, 2008 13:36
Jenn- Talibans are winning? What in the h--- [747 words]ah haOct 6, 2008 00:11
God gives time but never neglects [95 words]sTsOct 17, 2008 16:30
Samer is back: and Allah created the mountains as a protection against earth quakes! really? [177 words]dhimmi no moreOct 18, 2008 08:51
Faith in Yeshua HaMashiach Prepares the Believer for Eternity, and All the Time One Wants with His Savior [89 words]M. ToveyOct 20, 2008 12:31
We believe in the unseen [174 words]sTsOct 21, 2008 06:22
Worship Of Almighty God is Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth - Holy Bible is Written Evidence of the Truth in Yeshua HaMashiach [645 words]M. ToveyOct 22, 2008 14:19
rituals of Hajj [1116 words]sTsOct 28, 2008 02:52
Understanding the Holy Bible is an Act of Faith Necessary to Understand its Truths [1192 words]M. ToveyOct 29, 2008 18:27
"Holding our postion" never wins wars - against state, as well as non-state enemies [109 words]jennifer solisSep 16, 2008 15:16
What type of war we should win?! [274 words]Khaled AlySep 16, 2008 11:33
Managing between winning and losing [106 words]JaySep 16, 2008 05:27
PC rears its ugly head again [207 words]Y Brandstetter MDSep 16, 2008 04:07
Must counterinsurgency wars fail [185 words]kim segarSep 15, 2008 13:29
counter insurgency? [152 words]trans-parereSep 15, 2008 11:06
Not with a sword [163 words]michaelSep 15, 2008 09:31
To win or to loose, a question of objectives. [177 words]Jon, a Brit in EurolandSep 15, 2008 08:42
Victory against insurgents [116 words]RafiSep 15, 2008 06:25
Economical way to beat terror. [119 words]RadovanSep 14, 2008 23:32
different and clever ways to beat Terror [174 words]RadovanSep 14, 2008 23:13
Pakistan backed Insurgency was defeated Indian Punjab [155 words]SinghaSep 14, 2008 22:51
Very Interesting Question for Dr. Pipes [195 words]AlexSep 14, 2008 22:16
Must counter.wars fail? [220 words]Miani, ElieSep 14, 2008 17:45
Sleuths, Poets, Boots and Persistence [596 words]J. S. OppenheimSep 15, 2008 09:47
Much simpler [155 words]Stuart TeichSep 14, 2008 17:08
Counterinsurgency wars are winnable, provided... [49 words]M.D'SouzaSep 14, 2008 17:01
I have a news for Hindus and Jews [92 words]Aseel AbdulOct 5, 2008 00:17
No amount of olive branches waved at Islamists will pacify them! [30 words]M.D'SouzaDec 2, 2008 17:12
"fighting terrorism" [99 words]Ben ZSep 14, 2008 16:55
Only native states can win counterinsurgency [50 words]Romesh ChanderSep 14, 2008 16:20
counterinsurgency [199 words]staffordSep 14, 2008 16:12
Wrong examples [449 words]IanusSep 14, 2008 14:55
Leadership winning over FARC insurgency [171 words]Dan SchwartzSep 14, 2008 14:20
Winning the war against Islamic extremists [119 words]AhmadSep 14, 2008 14:03
Act like Putin did in Chechnya [273 words]Romesh ChanderSep 14, 2008 21:59
Ahmad [16 words]TerroristsSep 15, 2008 07:38
Ahmed: Thanks but NO thanks [13 words]Khan BulzarSep 21, 2008 17:39
yes, that's the way to win [27 words]TulioSep 14, 2008 13:10
Counterinsurgency wars are winnable, but require a paradigm shift in the population [326 words]Dr-RJPSep 14, 2008 13:08
Reply to Dr-RJP [88 words]jennifer solisSep 16, 2008 15:37
All wars are one (sic) [51 words]DrRJPSep 18, 2008 13:37
Hammer and nails [234 words]Ghulam Muhammed, MumbaiSep 14, 2008 12:31
Winnable or accepting the inevitable? [246 words]Rebecca MouldsSep 14, 2008 12:05
Justice/Mercy is the answer: suicide/murder are false gods [98 words]Moshebaer ben YosefleviSep 14, 2008 11:51
Winning hearts and minds [78 words]hyman peskinSep 14, 2008 11:08
War: Its nature cause and end. [242 words]Ralph C Whaley MDSep 14, 2008 10:15
A realistic answer. [95 words]Anne-Marie DelcambreSep 14, 2008 07:26
THE FINANCING OF TERROR [763 words]TIRDAD GHARIBSep 14, 2008 07:02
Win or not win [46 words]Francesco MangasciàSep 14, 2008 06:14

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.

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