Hypothetical question...

[Solon]

First off a response to what I am sure is an accusation I will face with this question, no I don't agree with the tactics of the Iragi resistors, however I can understand thier position as well.

Scenario: OK, lets say Bush II in 2004 installs himself as official dictator, rather than seeing himself lose the election. In response another nation or coalition decides to "liberate" us, and succeeds (China for example).

Would Americans actually make a fine distinction between civilian and military targets?

Are we so different that we would care, or would we do anything to remove the yolk of foriegn rulership? I would like to think that we would, but I highly doubt it.

[Terwilliger]

1. Scenario: Bush installs himself...Result: American Revolution

I'll plow through what it takes...it'll be racial profiling of white males all the way!

[Wonk]

4. As a white male...

please don't just shoot whitey and ask questions later. If it comes down to that level of superficial distinctions you might find me in the camp that you're shooting at, ironically. Dig it?

Peace.

on edit: I know that's not what you literally meant, but I extrapolated a bit.

on second edit: Less sure of what you meant. I'll check this thread again tomorrow. Goodnight.

[Wonk]

2. Hypothetical answer....

NATO intervenes.

[Solon]

3. Question is...

How would the American people respond to that? Even if the majority back NATO, how would the die-hards react?

[izzie]

5. I think I will keep my head in the sand.

OK?

[Solon]

6. Ignorance is bliss isn't it.

I remember seeing Enemy at the Gates with my dad, and the scene that highlighted the Russian Officers shooting thier own soldiers for retreating. I told my dad that if the situation were the same here, our own officers would not hesitate to shoot our soldiers for the same reason. He said Americans would never do that, its impossible. He's so set with that I didn't have the heart to tell him it did happen, in the Pacific, during WWII. I doubt he would believe me anyways, why would he, us Americans are so "exceptional".

[Devils Advocate NZ]

7. How many attacks against civillians have you heard about?

I have only heard of three - The Jordanian Embassy bombing, the UN bombing, and the recent car bomb outside the Shiite mosque, and there is some suspicion that these attacks were carried out by foreign terrorists rather than Iraqis. Every other attack I have heard of targetted US/UK occupation forces.

So although I understand where you're coming from, I would like to point out that there has been little or no Iraqi attacks against civillians, even though they would have every reason to do so.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. My husband has conducted an experiment

He asks his fellow mechanics at work what they would do if a foreign government came and took their land, wouldn't allow them to work, kept them under martial law, etc, etc. He was alluding to the Palestinian situation, but the reaction he could pertains to the discussion here: to a man, the mechanics said that they wouldn't tolerate a foreign invader and that they'd be ready to 'lock and load' if one appeared. They said nothing about taking out other Americans, however-don't know how that would work. But even during WWII, Nazi collaborators were often dealt with by the populace.