both in theory and, more so, in practice.
my native country, Sri Lanka - has a long history of Theravada Buddhist religion, culture & ethics, from 300 BC onwards. Roughly 70% of the population identify themselves as Buddhists. Yet, there was an abominable, 40 year long, ongoing ethnic conflict, from the early 1970's until a short while back, between the majority Sinhalese group which is largely Buddhist & the minority Tamil group which is largely Hindu.
Even more disgusting was the fact that, quite a number of so-called Buddhist monks supported, & even encouraged, the violence on the part of the majority community, under the pretext of self-defense; basically using the same excuse pushed by the Bush administration, for the attack on Iraq. Some so-called monks actually lead axe & club wielding mobs, in their attacks. (At the same time, there were those, even lay persons, who protected those in danger at the risk & sometimes the loss, of their own lives - much fewer in number, though they were.)
If the Buddha had been around to see this, i believe he would have personally thrown those monks out of the Sangha. He once asked a group of novice monks to leave the order - just because they were chattering like monkeys, during the mid-day meal & were unable to maintain a dignified silence. How much more repulsive, would the behavior of monks who advocate violence be - whatever the reason.
The Buddha's teachings on violence & even the reaction to violence, are quite clear and always the same, regardless of the provocation. One of his instructions, you quoted yourself: "Avoid what can be avoided; endure what cannot be avoided".
Another command to his monks is given in the Kakacupama Sutta. Here he states unequivocally that - even if a monk is undergoing physical torture & violence at the hands of criminals, such as being carved up with saws, if they were true followers of his teaching, they would still maintain goodwill & sympathy towards their attackers & tormentors.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.021x.than.html
"Monks, even if bandits were to carve you up savagely, limb by limb, with a two-handled saw, he among you who let his heart get angered even at that would not be doing my bidding. Even then you should train yourselves: 'Our minds will be unaffected and we will say no evil words. We will remain sympathetic, with a mind of good will, and with no inner hate. We will keep pervading these people with an awareness imbued with good will and, beginning with them, we will keep pervading the all-encompassing world with an awareness imbued with good will — abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.' That is how you should train yourselves."
When his own city-state & clan, were under threat of attack from a neighboring king, even though his tribe begged him to come & lead their army in their defense, while he tried to reason with the aggressor twice & dissuade him from the attack, when he saw that it was futile - he advised his people to lay down their weapons & accept whatever was inflicted on them, without responding with violence. His people were decimated by the attack; and the Buddha's Shakya Clan ceased to exist after that episode.
Unfortunately, that level of dedication to Buddhist principles, is beyond most of us; even those who have taken the path of Monkhood. To paraphrase an earlier poster: different persons are at different levels on the path & will act & react differently. This has always been & always will be, the case. Obviously, one cannot classify all self-professed Buddhists as saints & good people; as in any other population, there will always be many waverers, hypocrites and the occasional demonic being, among them.
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