When I say "finite number," I'm assuming we don't do something stupid and bomb a bunch of civilians who might, otherwise be on our side. Without such an incident, yes, the number is pretty finite.
As for the Brits in Ireland, a better counterfactual would be if a British-supported IRISH government (not northern Ireland) was facing a rebellion, and if it commanded a majority of the Irish population. In that case, England would have won.
In 2004, Israeli Arab citizens made up about 19.5% of Israel's population. How do you consider them? I don't quite understand your point about the Iraqis. Whose presence are you referring to? Us?
When I say "finite number," I'm assuming we don't do something stupid and bomb a bunch of civilians who might, otherwise be on our side. Without such an incident, yes, the number is pretty finite.
Potential terrorists are being born every day in places like Palestine, Iran, Chechnya, etc.
As for the Brits in Ireland, a better counterfactual would be if a British-supported IRISH government (not northern Ireland) was facing a rebellion, and if it commanded a majority of the Irish population. In that case, England would have won.
No, it depends on what that IRISH government represented, how big a majority it commanded, and whether that majority had the same committment and intensity of the minority. If it was a puppet government like the Soviet-supported AFGHAN government in the 1980s, there would still be an insurgency and the IRISH PEOPLE would have triumphed.
Remember, only one-third of the people supported the American Revolution.
Can you list the 11 major guerilla wars of the 20th Century and who ultimately prevailed? Thanks.