Dalai Lama Assesses Iraq, Afghan Wars

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- The Dalai Lama, who implored President Bush to avoid a violent response after the terrorist attacks two years ago, says it's too early to judge whether the Iraq war was warranted. But he says the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan may have been justified to win a larger peace.

"In principle, I always believe nonviolence is the right thing, and nonviolent method is in the long run more effective," he said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press, just after he met with Bush.

The exiled Tibetan leader, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, said the Vietnam War increased suffering and was a "failure." But, he said, some wars, including the Korean War and World War II, helped "protect the rest of civilization, democracy."

He said he saw a similar result in Afghanistan -- "perhaps some kind of liberation."

snip....

Asked whether the Iraq war was just in light of that plea, the Dalai Lama said the situation there is "more complicated" and will take more time before he can judge.

"I think history will tell," he said.


more..........

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-dalai-lama-interview,0,226905.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[ixion]

1. it makes me sad to hear the Dali Lama giving any creedence

to the illegal invasions carried out by the Bush junta. :-(

[Larkspur]

2. Afghanistan War had world support, Iraq War did not

The Taliban hosted Al Queda, who took credit for the Sep 11 attacks. We were justified in invading Afghanistan. What is outrageous is that we abandoned Afghanistan a 2nd time to warlords and chaos.

[jayfish]

3. Did They Really Ever Take Credit For 9/11?

Other than (a disputedly authentic) Osama mentioning it in a video?

Jay

[Rollins]

4. Yes we eliminated the training camps but

...we turned the control over to the dope running warlords. I have thought for a couple years now that what the Bush clan is doing is tearing down the structure of 3rd world governments and replacing them with crooks who can be bought.

We should of negotiated a peace after bombing the training camps. Bush did not and world peace will likely suffer because of that fact.

[TacticalPeek]

5. I don't have a problem taking down the Taliban. I want 'em further down.

Of course, I've got a big problem with abandoning the Stans once again, the fools. But what should I expect from chickenhawk ideologues who move essential intel and military assets from Afghanistan (where they belong and have an honorable job to do) to frigging Iraq, where they don't belong, and their job borders on criminal enterprise.

[Flubadubya]

6. We really must be in the Kali Yuga...

for the Dalai Lama to condone ANY kind of violence. I can't think of any other reason.

[htuttle]

7. Dear Tenzin...

For decades, you've warned that violence was an inappropriate tool to use in liberating Tibet from it's Chinese occupiers. Many of your countrymen (ie., your 'subjects') and many of the tulku found this very frustrating, but your position as spiritual leader lent your opinion great weight, so they held back their desire to fight to free their country.

How can the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq POSSIBLY be justified in this light?

I fear Tenzin Gyatso has compromised himself in order curry favor with Washington.

It is indeed the Kali Yuga...