How does this relate to what is happening in Mali and Algeria?.

I'm just drawing attention to the futility of violence, MLKs quote isn't addressing Mali, Algeria and Syria obviously, just think his message regarding violence is poignant. Feel free to tell me your issues regarding my post and I'll happily discuss it. Do you feel it's irrelevant?

It comes down to context really. If by love he means peaceful negotiations, then yes, ideally it is a hell of a lot better for everyone. But, the people instigating the violence are militants, and negotiating peacefully is not their way. They want what they want at any cost. If it means blowing up a gas plant or bus carrying old ladies to market, it doesn't matter, they will do it and they will keep doing it until they get what they want, everyone is beaten into submission, or until someone tells them to stop and then forces them to. Don't kid yourself here, they have been warned plenty of times. Do you expect people to sit by and let stuff like this happen without any kind of reprisal taking place. I don't know how telling people to show love for those trying to oppress them is in anyway helpful, especially if those ok the other side do not show the same.

* on the other side.

Same has been said of IRA, ultimately the unpalatable truth is that you have to negotiate. This will become more apparent as the draw down in Afghanistan nears completion. But I was also trying to make the point that violent struggle doesn't achieve either. There is not a United Ireland so IRAs armed struggle failed. There is not a great Islamic caliphate so al-Qaeda have failed. Violence is ultimately futile. Now this does not mean I don't believe in defence, of course if there is an armed insurrection in a country they have the right to repel that.