[68c12c16]

  > The victors right the history to justify 
  > their actions, whether it is true or not, 
  > or even reasonable.

Yes, I agree. That's a saddening part of our real world, that veracity is not always the most enduring thing (and it is usually not)...

  > And to muddy that further, it isn't unreasonable 
  > to think that the PLA's invasion of Tibet was simply 
  > territorial in nature and had nothing to do with the 
  > condition of its people (like the Siege of Changchun 
  > that wound up killing more people than they liberated).

I feel you are making an assumption that PLA or Chinese government is a single entity with a universal will (similar to general will)...but the implementation of the actual strategies are quite often the work of individual commanders and they usually differ quite a lot -- as all individuals do...It's unfortunate and saddening to see there have been so many assholes in almost any country of the world -- and you cannot do anything about it, as they are much much more resourceful than us...

  > But this is all par for the course for 
  > the human history of conflict

Perhaps we should let those who want conflict to fight their own fight, and leave the majority of us to live our own lives...but as I said, those people in power are much much more resourceful than most of us...The result is that we are fighting their fight, and let them live our lives...