&gt; One should really compare the bloodliness of those pacifications with similar ones undertaken against Iraq or Libya. The difference would be dramatic.<p>Why? This is a very ham fisted attempt at the usual &quot;bu.. but the Americans are worse!&quot; routine with no need to compare the two in the first place. The only possible reason for comparing them would be to find the Soviet Union more peaceful or less bloody outside of its borders than the US, something that has little to no relevancy to this article.