Reply #3: This conflict is one of the longest civil wars in modern history. [View All]

Usually, one side or the other has massacred or driven off the other by now.

The Tamil's wear a cyanide vial to take instead of getting caught. Certainly not the first to be taught to commit suicide if caught, the Japanese samurai committed suicide on the battlefield, but it brings to mind how important the Geneva conventions are. The main reasons combatants have committed suicide is to show their loyalty to the home party, but also because they knew what would happen if they got caught- often horrifying torture and death. Why did we have such an easy time in Gulf War I? Part of it was because of overwhelming force, but part of it was the Iraqi soldiers committing mass surrender. If they had decided to hunker down, it would have been much worse. And why did they give up so quickly? Because they knew that the Americans would not torture and kill them. Our goodwill* saved both Iraqi and American lives, while getting the 'mission accomplished'.

From what I understand, the Tamil Tigers were also among the first to use female suicide bombers.

*'Highway of Death' excepted, a controversial strafing of retreating Iraqis.