It took less than 1000 IRA fighters to keep 38,000 British pinned down.

[benburch]

Some estimates put the number as small as 400-600.

I think this deserves some contemplation as we consider our likely future in Iraq and here at home.

[progressiveBadger]

1. People tend to defend their homeland aggressively

American revolution, Afgahnistan, Russia. For some reason, it is human nature to protect your way of life. Imagine that! </sarcasm>

[SariesNightly]

2. That's why

colonialism went out of fashion decades ago.

But since all the "end of world" fundies don't care about reality, and the generic Haliburtons care more about oil than lives, and the civilian contractors want blank checks from congress more than anything else, all I can say is I pity those who do the dying and their families back home who'll have to deal with the sorrow.

[MichiganVote]

3. Never piss off the Irish

[benburch]

4. I wonder how big an insurgency we'd need in the USA to have that effect?

I'm betting we'd need more per-capita than the Irish did. Those guys know how to fight dirty.

[MichiganVote]

5. Well historically, the Irish absolutely never give up. Ever.

100 year wars are nothing to that population.