This thread has gone off the course. Some clarifications to give Dr. Ds blahblah a context: (1) "Even when the king was all powerful as opposed to "injured", people enjoyed a high degree of personal, social, cultural and economic freedom." - Not true. King's private army routinely abducted and raped women in the countryside. Business was held hostage by royal relatives. Muslims were attacked in Kathmandu. Even the worst form of Maoist lawlessness in the rural areas was better than army rule. (2)"The king did not extort money or "taxes", forcefully recruit people, seize private properties, or go on a killing spree like the Maoists." - Not true again. Royal goons forecibly collected "taxes" for royal tours, forced people to join vigilante groups, and killed more people in one year than the entire decade of insurgency. (3) "The king did not put unnecessary demands on the village folks like the maoists do." - How do you know? Villagers were forced to "sell" foodstuff to army even when they didn't have enough to eat. (4) "And the king relinquished power when the death toll climbed to 21." - Say it again--relinquisehd? Forced to withdraw will better describe the graceless manner he gave up absolute powers. (5) "the king who has virtually no power at all is more dangerous than the armed blood thirsty Maoists whose hands are soaked with blood of thousands of people?" - That's because king's hands are dipped in the blood of more innocents than Maoists. Check your facts--army has killed most of 14000 victims of Nepalese civil war. (6) "surely the path the US chooses to take is within its discreation. " - Agree. If for nothing else, SPA idiots should include Maoists in the cabinet to see what US does to reduce its vacation expenses in Nepal. US aid is paltry. Most of it is utilised by US citizens and their bootlickers in Kathmandu. (7) "US policy towards Nepal : Unrealistic and disastrous" - No Dr. DsUS thrives when poor countries suffer. Their policy towards Nepal is very realistic and very profitable. With this background, US policies towards People's Movement and Nepal needs to be discussed. May Lord Buddha Bless Us All