Posted on 06/12/2005 3:38:33 PM PDT by Santiago de la Vega
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A growing number of senior American military officers in Iraq have concluded that there is no long-term military solution to an insurgency that has killed thousands of Iraqis and more than 1,300 U.S. troops during the past two years.
Instead, officers say, the only way to end the guerilla war is through Iraqi politics - an arena that so far has been crippled by divisions between Shiite Muslims, whose coalition dominated the January elections, and Sunni Muslims, who are a minority in Iraq but form the base of support for the insurgency.
(Excerpt) Read more at realcities.com ...
Since Colin Powell's first blundering attempts to build us a coalition, this has been true.
Now, the lessons of his treasonous incompetence are obvious to all. Had he done his job right, we wouldn't have these problems.
Had we a State Department worth talking about, we might have stronger allies in the region and the world who can help in Iraq.
Also, Commerce and Treasury in this country have failed to do their part to pacify and rebuild the country.
Again, I hope that Rove and Hughes will see what's going on and put together the coalition we need: politicly here at home, within the executive and legislative branches, and with our allies.
I have repeatedly called for a "General Staff of the President" to make these decisions Only a group presided over the President's chief of staff will have the authority to put together the pieces of victory. Without this effort, our military will keep dying in stupid explosions.
We've got work to do in Syria, Iran, and the Arabian peninsula, and we don't have any more time for Iraq.
Again, I'm proud of these warriors for speaking the truth.
You would cut out the Civilian Leadership in DOD?
No, I just forgot to mention 'em.
That's why we have editors, I guess.
""Again, I hope that Rove and Hughes will see what's going on and put together the coalition we need: politicly here at home, within the executive and legislative branches, and with our allies.""
Rve and Hughes are political and electoral consultants, they do not design policy. Their job is to win votes, not make Iraq safe.
Call this number. 1-800-352-3875. Bush wants to put you in command of prosecuting all aspects the war until we get done.
Rumsfeld and Condi will report to you.
"""I have repeatedly called for a "General Staff of the President" to make these decisions""
I cant believe the President and Congress havent heeded your calls
Instead, officers say, the only way to end the guerilla war is through Iraqi politics - an arena that so far has been crippled by divisions between Shiite Muslims, whose coalition dominated the January elections, and Sunni Muslims, who are a minority in Iraq but form the base of support for the insurgency.
""We've got work to do in Syria, Iran, and the Arabian peninsula, and we don't have any more time for Iraq.""
I am left speechless but such drivel
You forgot the Barf Alert. This is nothing but MSM propaganda.
I agree with you about Colin Powell. He is one of the most overrated public servants. His stint as Secretary of State was particularly disastrous. He seemed disengaged and listless to me.
Sec Rice is so much more focused and energetic.
Powell couldn't even get Turkey on board and we're still recovering from that. Plus he got rolled at the UN by the French, not once, but twice!!
The media loves Powell, don't see what the attraction is.
ROTFLOL. Thanks for the laugh.
Military operations in Baghdad decreased the numbers of bomb attacks. 1300 terrorists captured. The military operation is working.
""The media loves Powell, don't see what the attraction is."
It is cuz he is a moderate.
And Knight Ridder no less. Is that a trusted real news source now? When did that happen.
As far as I can tell our policy has been to have the Iraqis engage the terrorists and from the looks of things they are. Maybe if the news reporter would go outside of Washington to Iraq, they would find out what is really going on. Just last week the Iraqi government was in talks to include the Sunnis in the government. sigh, the reporter must have been on cocktail break.
There are plenty of sites on the net to get real news about Iraq. Knight Ridder isn't one of them.
This article says nothing that ordinary common sense could not tell us. It is impossible to end an insurgency with military only, unless one is willing to commit genocide.
The dead enders must certainly be killed or imprisoned. The enablers, however, those who give money protection etc, must be convinced that the government serves them better than the terrorists.
correct.
i just wanna puke reading it.
"Trained in economics, I've now attained the rank of admiral in the financial world."
Stick to the economic battles, Admiral.
The insurgency will eventually end. The question is how. It will end when the insurgents no longer see any hope in continuing, or it will end because they have won power.
The article is correct in pointing out that the long-term solution is political, but for there to be a political solution the insurgents have to be kept at bay.
Lets be very clear. There are two groups from which the insurgency draws its manpower. There is the Baathist Old Guard, and there are the radicalized muslims from over the border. The Baathists were the ones dropping their political enemies into wood shredders, and sawing off their heads in front of their families. Under no circumstances must these people ever return to power.
And the radicalized muslims are the ones sawing off the heads of aid workers on camera. Again, such a person must never get his hands on the institutions of power in that or any other country.
Together they are blowing up Iraqi civilians by the hundreds, they are machine-gunning female secretaries on their way home from work, they are setting off carbombs amid school-kids playing in the streets, they have bombed mosques and crowds exiting from mosques. They kill relatively few soldiers, they kill mostly Iraqis.
One or the other, or some combination of the two, will most assuredy shoot their way back into power, if we do not do our job well. No, there is no "military solution" as such. But there can be no political solution without a fight, unless by "political solution" you mean letting the killers take power.
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