War cannot be waged 'peacefully'

Toronto Sun ^ | 11/26/2006 | Peter Worthington

[WestNJersey]

Want to know why we (meaning the West) won't win the war on terror?

Look at Israel, arguably the toughest, least compromising of the democracies when it comes to combating terrorism. It has been fighting terrorism from the day it became a sovereign state, thanks to the UN.

Yet Israel, after failing to win the brief war with Hezbollah, is back to having to defend itself against rockets from Gaza, where Hamas rules when it isn't feuding with the Palestinian Authority.

The other day, after a rocket attack, Israel announced it was attacking the home of a suspected terrorist leader where explosives were stored. It gave the occupants 30 minutes warning to evacuate before war planes obliterated the house.

So what did the residents do? Well, not only did they not evacuate, but neighbours formed a human shield at the targeted house and, guess what?

The Israel war planes were called off. So now, every time the Israelis give the 30-minute warning which, apparently, is policy, the "human shields" of women and children head for the targeted house, secure in the knowledge that the Israelis won't attack.

This is madness -- no way to fight a war, or terrorists. And this is Israel -- the toughest democracy on the block. And yet Israel hasn't even gotten its kidnapped soldiers back from Hamas and Hezbollah, which provoked Israeli retaliation.

American, British, Canadian and NATO soldiers are even more restrained.

When the Americans had (or thought they had) insurgents in Iraq, mostly confined in Fallujah, a hotbed of enemy activity, rather than obliterate it (as they would have done in WWII) they gave a week's warning for civilians to depart before they attacked.

BAD GUYS DISPERSED

When the assault eventually went in, the bad guys were mostly gone -- dispersed to other areas to continue their slaughter of the innocent.

War cannot easily be waged peacefully. Restraints often mean prolonging the war and increasing its casualties.

Today, humane considerations are paramount. The symbol of peaceful protest is Mahatma Gandhi, the creator of passive resistance that anti-military activists like to cite as a way to thwart authority. Often overlooked, is that Gandhi's formula worked against the British. If he and his followers had lain down in front of Cossacks, the Wehrmacht or the Golden Horde of Genghis Khan, Gandhi would have become an asterisk of history rather than an icon.

A report out of Britain recalls that when American forces first went into Afghanistan, the first Taliban they caught were terrified --apparently convinced by their indoctrination that the American monsters would rip their livers out. Consequently, captives babbled like brooks and told all they knew.

Then they discovered that American soldiers feed you and generally abide by certain rules and ethics unknown to Taliban and al-Qaida.

Thereafter they shut up with no repercussions.

Remember the U.S. bombing of Baghdad prior to the 2003 invasion? Peace activists from the West pompously announced they'd be human shields around prospective targets.

Once the bombing started, these people fled -- outraged that the Americans could be so inhumane, even though none were targeted.

EX-HUMAN SHIELDS

As for Israel, if its government is nuts enough to give warnings of attacks, then it deserves what happens. The next warning should be that if human shields remain, they will quickly become ex-human shields.

One attack should be sufficient to persuade Palestinian human shields to take cover.

It's idiotic to give warning of an attack. Hezbollah and Hamas don't warn intended targets of rocket attacks and suicide bombings.

America lost the Vietnam War because it refused to do what was necessary to win -- a political decision that cost unnecessary lives on both sides, and achieved nothing.

Is that the future of Iraq? It seems so.

[gogogodzilla]

This author speaks the truth that many here at the FreeRepublic don't want to hear...

:-(

[Mr. Silverback]

When the Americans had (or thought they had) insurgents in Iraq, mostly confined in Fallujah, a hotbed of enemy activity, rather than obliterate it (as they would have done in WWII) they gave a week's warning for civilians to depart before they attacked...When the assault eventually went in, the bad guys were mostly gone -- dispersed to other areas to continue their slaughter of the innocent.

Though I agree with the thrust of this article, what I've quoted above is crap. We held off on Fallujah because commanders on the scene felt it would work to our advantage, and there were plenty of Jihadis in there when the Marines arrived.

[Junior_G]

This article is depressing, primarily because it is absolutely correct. Both Israel and America have lost the will to wage war. What will it take for us to become serious nations again?

[TigersEye]

The other day, after a rocket attack, Israel announced it was attacking the home of a suspected terrorist leader where explosives were stored. It gave the occupants 30 minutes warning to evacuate before war planes obliterated the house. So what did the residents do? Well, not only did they not evacuate, but neighbours formed a human shield at the targeted house and, guess what?

The author is quite right. When I heard the above story on TV the other day I couldn't believe it. Everyone who surrounded that house showed themselves to be the enemy. Their actions define them as terrorists. I think the same is true when thousands come out into the streets to celebrate some suicide bombers death. They show themselves to unequivocally be the enemy. Legitimate targets all.

[Mr. Mojo]

That sure is the truth. ....and it's mostly due to an astonishing ignorance concerning the nature of the enemy combined with a blind trust in the current GOP leadership.

I have little doubt that we'll eventually toss all the "rules of engagement" and "winning hearts and minds" nonsense out the window, but it'll happen only after coming face to face with our national survival. ....and God only knows how many dead American civilians.

[Irisshlass]

Talking to servicemen, they say it is the people at the top running the war. Into advance technology than men and fire power. Deaths are due to inexperience guard and reservist troops. Troops are getting out in droves, fed up. Feel it could of been over quickly, but those at the top don't know what they are doing.

[1234]

i keep thinkin Cheney's gonna order a hit on iran(and scare the sh*t outta n. korea) in the 2 yr. window remaining for the admin..

[Recon Dad]

We held off on Fallujah because commanders on the scene felt it would work to our advantage

Where did you come up with this, please give your references. Below you will find the position of the military responsible for taking Fallujah. You will find this on page 191 of No True Glory by Bing West.

When Toolan and Mattis were holding their separate meetings, at the MEF Conway had received a phone call from Sanchez with a blunt message. The White House, Sanchez said, would never give the Marines the green light to take the city. The White House was under too pressure from too many directions. However, the Marines could remain in a cordon around the city.

If you're going to make a statement about crap prove it.

[Lewite]

The Righteous Scriptures show us how to fight a war: you kill all the men, all the women, all the children and all the cattle. It works, you do not have that enemy coming back at you in any form. Yes, I agree we should fight a war with the goal of complete victory. To read a good article on Islime, go to:
yourarmstoisrael.org
select "a must read"
pull up "Article 29/"The Final End Time Beast"
Print and save for future reference.

[Recon Dad]

I hate to use this analogy because in might seem frivolous, but Islam reminds me of the "BORG" of Star Trek.
You can't negotiate with them only fight them.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

I hate to use this analogy because in might seem frivolous, but Islam reminds me of the "BORG" of Star Trek.

They are more like "Orks" in Lord of the Rings and their mosques are like the dark towers...

[Mr. Silverback]

See America's Victories by Larry Scweikart (aka Freeper LS), pages 52-57. He quotes No True Glory extensively.

[Zionist Conspirator]

It's the perverted worship of "the other" (always arbitrarily defined) that forms the core of Western leftist (as opposed to non-Western leftist) ideology. "We" are presumed guilty of historic crimes against "them" and their quaint culture (which can never be evaluated by Western standards).

Why don't we just commit suicide? It would be quicker.

[Zionist Conspirator]

This is politically correct war. The enemy only has contempt for your servility. War is to kill people and break things. A concept enlightened liberals will never understand.

Correction: enlightened liberals will never understand this when it comes to wars waged by us. They're always quick to apologize for and excuse the most atrocious behavior by "the other" in its "war of national liberation." The Western Left (unlike the non-Western Left) is full of self-hatred. You can bet your boots that the people of North Korea haven't had guilt pumped into them 24/7 for the past fifty-eight years.

[i_dont_chat]

What will it take for us to become serious nations again?

My opinion, it will take a terrible disaster. There will be a great sacrifice before the public supports the war on terror.

[Mr. Silverback]

Oops, let me try that again:

See America's Victories by Larry Scweikart (aka Freeper LS), pages 52-57. He quotes No True Glory extensively.

[Mr. Silverback]

Troops are getting out in droves, fed up.

Not true. The services keep making their re-enlistment targets.

[Mr. Silverback]

Last time I checked, George W. Bush was President of the United States.

[Nancee]

BUMP!!!