Hmm. I seem to remember the refrain, 'We will bury you ...' And how do you feel about the persecution of Nazis by the Anglo-American bloc during the early/mid-40's? Terrible, wasn't it?A 'persecution' that these self-same communists were dead-set against during the brief Russo-German spring of 1939-1940.
To be clear - I think the level of restraint shown by the McCarthyites is an admirable example of a free society in action. The communists they fought against would be shot out of hand in a less cohesive and open society. In the final analysis, individuals who strove mightily to betray the very system that protected them were - what? Shown for what they were? Brought 'out of the closet'? What was the crime of these 'witch-hunters' - letting people know the affiliations of those they dealt with?
As to the various 'armed struggles' overseas:
Nicaragua: Funding these murderers was pretty dumb. The Reagan policy rectified these earlier errors, however (as in, not allowing the Sandanistas to slaughter their opponents, like for example the Miskito Indians. Via the mechanism of arming them, as in, see Afghanistan).
Guatemala: The communists never were able to gain a significant basis of support here. I've heard that the government was rather brutal here, but strangely, not from Guatemalans.
Colombia (and Peru): The Shining Path is a brutal group of butchers. Mass murder is still murder, and should be punished accordingly. Again, admirable restraint on the side of the government.
El Salvador: D'Abuisson was a popular figure. He definitely tapped into the frustration felt by many El Salvadoreans against the depredations of the communists. Not much restraint here, but the communists were crushed. A perfect example of the kind of barbarism that insurgency warfare often degenerates into. In sum, I abhor the methods, but understand them given the nature of the enemy fought.
South Korea: It amazes me that the Koreans don't torture communists to death. In reflection on the horrors performed on these people by said group, and those promised in the future, it boggles my mind that some in Korea still advocate a pro-North reunification.
Indonesia: Much as in Singapore, a communist takeover turned sour. My heart goes out to those of East Timor, but I have precious little compassion for the communists who struggle to exploit and worsen their plight.
Dominican Republic: Ignorant of the situation here. However, given the track record of capitalists vs. communists ...
Am I pro or con? Gee. Well ... since I took my present vocation specifically to fight the menace you call 'communism', probably a great deal less 'con' than you'd like. I think that communism should be viewed in the same light as Nazism or fascism - a monstrous system, with vicious self-serving tyrant wannabes as its primary membership. I don't think that communists should be silenced, no more than Nazis, but my tolerance runs thin with them. In fact, I'm more tolerant of a bigot's views (nasty, but socially accepted as wrong) to those of a leftist (not only socially accepted, but encouraged). Nothing that can't be resolved through vigorous debate, however.
'Armed strugglers', however, are another matter entirely. Thus, I keep my weapons skills in high order, lest I be the unwilling benefactor of all that Orwellian joy, as experienced by the North Koreans, Russians, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians, Cubans, etc.
I hope this answers your questions in sufficient detail.
None.
