LogFAQs > #978997551

lolife67 posted...

But they didn't eliminate the Southern Water Tribe like they did the Air nomads. In fact, they didn't even attack for 100 years. They also didn't kill every Earth bender.

I assume they didn't eliminate the Water Tribes because there was no Sozin's Comet to boost their power. They needed the comet to wipe out the Air Nomads and the Water Tribe has the advantage in the opposing element along with getting a power boost every single night.
And they did attack and imprison waterbenders all the time, as evident by Hama later on in the series. She was captured from the Southern Water Tribe.