I think the reason why Buddhism is seen as pacifist is this is the media attention that it gets (but hey i could be wrong). Buddhism defends itself when it feels threatened the same as everything. This is a particularly good link i think for this type of topic ->
http://www.cfr.org/pdf/correspondence/xFaure.php
Is Buddhism pacifist? One would think so, to hear the Declarations of the Dalai Lama and those who claim there has never been "Buddhist war.".........
how can one kill another person, when, according to good Buddhist orthodoxy, all is emptiness? The person who kills with full knowledge of the facts kills no one, since he has realized that all is but illusion, himself as well as the other person. The idea, moreover, is not exclusive to Buddhism........
