[My2Cents]

Seems simple: We were prepared to go in, guns blazing. The Iraqi Governing Council had reservations about that. In deference to the Council, we backed off a major offensive. Why is there a fuss about the reality that any option in Iraq is difficult, complex, and has many ramifications? It's easy to sit in front of a computer on FreeRepublic and argue that we should flatten the miserable place. We have to trust to our leaders to figure out how to balance our military advantage with the diplomatic considerations.

[expatguy]

Why is there a fuss about the reality that any option in Iraq is difficult, complex, and has many ramifications?

It is not difficult and it is not complex.

War is simple. Beat your opponent into submission and the war is over.

It's a dirty business. People get killed. If you don't have the stomach for it then it's best not to get involved.

[BluH2o]

Speaking as a Marine going back to the Vietnam era ... that strategy rarely, if ever, works.

[cajungirl]

I agree with you.

[TomasUSMC]

We have to trust to our leaders to figure out how to balance our military advantage with the diplomatic considerations

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These exact words were repeated by the Governments Yes-men, a thousand times during Nam.

Well we now have history to learn from and thus are able to learn from our mistakes in Nam.

Fight with everything you have or get everything you have out.

[norton]

Absolutely agree with the post: "Seems simple: We were prepared to go in, guns blazing. The Iraqi Governing Council had reservations about that. In deference to the Council, we backed off a major offensive. Why is there a fuss about the reality that any option in Iraq is difficult, complex, and has many ramifications? It's easy to sit in front of a computer on FreeRepublic and argue that we should flatten the miserable place....?"

We want Iraqis to take responsibility & the only way to do that is to give them responsibility & to consider their concerns valid when they do step up to the plate.

If the Iraqi brigade does fail, which it might and for numerous reasons, US forces should not have to go house to house after all - the response is much more likely to be the 'shock and awe' we've heard so much about.