Flashpoints Site Directory

Site Directory

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Flashpoints strives to provide the information needed to make informed judgements about the nature of specific violent political conflicts, the aspirations of the adversaries and the prospects for intervention or resolution. Above all, we try to remain impartial and present alternative viewpoints in the hopes of stimulating critical thought and informed debate.

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ISRAEL-PALESTINE	IRAQ

NORTHERN IRELAND	BASQUE - SPAIN

Democracy is not a mandate for domination by a political majority. To survive and prosper democracies must recognize and provide for the welfare and aspirations of all citizens. While people will consent to be governed, history shows they will not consent to perpetual domination and governments survive only with the consent of the people.

Democratic government, indeed every government, is challenged to provide reasonably equal opportunities for education, employment and economic welfare. Among the most fundamental abuses by oppressive governments are denial of religious and cultural traditions and practices including the right to worship, to speak one's native language, to educate children in their native culture, history and tradition and to prosper from their labor.

When governments deny basic human rights to groups of people, those people are justified in their attempts to reform or replace the government. There is no more difficult decision than the decision to kill and die for one's beliefs and the faint hope for freedom.

Yet, time and again uncompromising regimes force people into a position where they have nothing left to lose.Wherever and whenever, people make the difficult and terrible choice to resort to political violence, those who respect human rights, value freedom and desire peace must examine the circumstances carefully, objectively and critically, to penetrate the fog of propaganda and censorship that obscures truth and ultimately denies justice.

James F. Mattil
Managing Editor
March 2011

Insight & Analysis

Iran: The Drums of War
Or Strategic Stalemate