Posted on 06/16/2004 8:52:31 AM PDT by Peach
Bump!
Yes, the WOT will be won asymmetrically.
Good post - agree 100% - 98 out of 100 times this is correct.
While I understand the complications of catching Zarqawi inside of Iraq (at least up until this time - he has only been on the run continually within Iraq for less then 6 months) -
My real frustration (not at anyone in particular) is with our inability to capture / kill Al Zawahiri in Afghanistan -I really expect news to break on us getting him any time now - Consiering which guys we have had over there the past 4 months or so now.
I think it might really serve to focus the minds of Iraqis. But I am not endorsing it.
You're correct its Bush's Vietnam tacticts that have to change.
When the Marines had those loyal tribes cornered in the old city we should have bounced the rubble. Instead our administration capitulated to international pressure and our domestic election cycle and dishonored the lives of those young Marines sacrificed in the initial probes.
There were/are no innocents in the old city. Men, women and children stayed there to support a cause.
Like nukes and flame-throwers, MOAB is not a PC-approved weapon. Of course, slamming hijacked commercial airliners into civilian buildings and detonating explosives on civilian mass transit carries is generally approved by world governing bodies.
I'm not necessarily disagreeing with your follow-on statement about killing lots of "innocents", but killing a large number of people was instrumental in winning WWII (the last war we actually "won" conclusively).
ore important than killing, a statement must be made about domination in order to end the conflict and restore order. But killing lots of people (combatants and others) IS an effective way of doing so. Perhaps this newfangled "friendly war" concept will work. Only time will tell. But every time I see Iraqi's dancing in the street near a burning Humvee with US soldiers' corpses inside, I wonder about this approach.
Because it's the middle of 2004, and November of 2004 is five months away.
One of the most astute comments on this thread.
"There is news from Falluja talking about a special meeting recently took place in one area in the centre of Falluja in which the (Mujaheeden) has pledged allegiance to appoint Al-Zarqawi as the Ameer (Prince or Governor) of the City of Falluja! Zarqawi was in the meeting which was attended by top leader of Mujaheeden including Arabs from Jordan, Saudis, Syrian and Palestinians.
They divided the city into various areas and called it Emarat El-Falluja (Emirate) with Zarqawi as the Ameer (Prince). They appointed a leader for each one of these areas among the Mujaheeden with one group under his leadership. They gave Zarqawi an Oath to set out the Islamic state of Caliphate in Falluja and from there they will spread it into the rest of Iraq and the region. They now try desperately to gather lot of youths and young people enthusiastic for that to join them. They also tried to get themselves extended well beyond that area to Baghdad and other regions. Among them are many Saudi Wahabis and Syrian with other Arabs. Recently a body of a Palestinian has been left unburied after killed in Najaf city after the fighting finished!
A quick action needs to be taken to weaken the basis of the devils and then with the strike of the Newly Born Iraqi Special Death Squads and commandos the thugs will be destroyed completely. Just a warning need to be taken very seriously!"
In the WOT, I don’t think the two (military and intelligence) should be separated. Not operationally, conceptually or semantically.
[Why is there still a city named Fallujah in Iraq, again?]
Because it's the middle of 2004, and November of 2004 is five months away.
One of the most astute comments on this thread.
I don't get it though, what does Bush have to gain by doing this? Trying to win with anti-war vote? Worst. Strategery. Ever. Instead, he alienates his base, puts Marines in danger and that alienates people even more. We do not need to kill everyone to win but, at the same time, we are not willing to do what it takes to win!
George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per cent
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George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per cent
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