Air strategy for war [in Iraq too] 'timid'

The Washington Times ^ | February 13, 2003 | Rowan Scarborough

[AntiGuv]

The Bush administration's desire to spare dual military-civilian targets in Iraq has produced an air war plan that is too timid and does not properly prepare the battle space for ground troops, according to interviews with military officers.

But a spokesman for the U.S. Central Command, which will run the operation, called the war plan "comprehensive, modern and flexible."

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Blood of Tyrants]

"He is micromanaging at a level that is mind-boggling,"

LBJ, Vietnam. If this article is correct, these decisions could prove disastrous.

[KeyWest]

Hard call.

[DoctorHydrocal]

I'm thinking, "Uh oh. Here we go again." If American casualties motivate the silent majority to speak out, this plan will be ridiculed. People will ask, "Why is it more important to keep the lights on in Baghdad than to save American lives?"

[B-bone]

If this article is correct

You've nailed the crux of this article.

[joesnuffy]

America kids in battle MUST be the first priority...not the enemy safety

Creating "Sanctuaries" for them as we did in Vietnam will be disatrous imo

They will hide everything and anything among the civilians and innocents...

They will happily gun down our troops from behind their own orphans...
And have the press there to show the dead orphans as proof of America's evil intent.

Bomb the living crap out of them...level the country first before sending one US troop in
Or dont go at all.....

Creating safe zones for these murderers isnt gonna help us one bit...with public relations (hell they all hate us now anyway and that isnt going to change in a limited war)

Setting up our own kids to spare theirs and then abandoning returning disabled vets relegting them to the cast off bin of VA system... isnt gonna win the next four years either..
If this happens I will throw my vote to anyone who will take care of the Vets PERIOD!

If we arent going to do everything to win this thing with the goal of the outcome being 100% in our favor then we should stay home...and kick every muslim out of America an bulldoze every mosque and islamic training center..

Win or Stay Home and take care of America's domestic terror program and seal its borders...IMO

[arjay]

One has to remember that many of these higher level officers were moved up under Clintoon more because of their political ability than their warmaking abilities.

I am wary of too much civilian control, but I have more trust in Rumsfeld and Bush than I do in many of these politicized generals.

I, for one, will withhold criticism until I see the results. I pray that God will guide our leaders in this extremely difficult mission.

[Blood of Tyrants]

...many of these higher level officers were moved up under Clintoon more because of their political ability ass kissing and political correctness.

[Wallace T.]

This strategy looks too Vietnam War-esqsue. Keep in mind our pulling punches strategy did not win any "hearts and minds" in Vietnam, but unnecessarily prolonged the war. That long period of war fed the growth of the antiwar movement, with its corollaries of massive civil unrest and the growth of the counterculture, which has, to a large extent, morphed into the mainstream culture, at least in the mainstream media and academia. Another unsuccessful, no-win war will only rekindle a new version of the counterculture.

The U.S. is not in as strong a position internationally as we were in 1991 or even in the 1960s. China is waiting in the wings as a superpower to be. Osama bin Laden has called for a common front between Socialism/Communism and the Islamic jihadists. There is plenty of evidence of military and intelligence cooperation between Iraq, North Korea, China, and Russia. NATO is seriously jeopardized by the refusal of France, Germany, and Belgium to honor their sworn obligation to protect fellow treaty member Turkey. Closer to home, Venezuela, a major supplier of oil, is controlled by a Marxist ally of Castro. Another Marxist has taken over Brazil. Columbia's stability is threatened by an alliance between Communists and narcotraffickers. Chinese companies owned by the Chinese army maintain large facilities dangerously clost to the Panama Canal.

Our nation is threatened by Middle Eastern terrorists who seemingly travel at will even as our airport screeners harass gray haired grandmothers and middle-aged white guys. We have a large, native-born fifth column of leftists, led by prominent Hollywood stars. Muslims of the militant stripe of Louis Farakhan are far more infuential in the black community and in the prisons than was the case 30-35 years ago.

Americans must get serious both about the upcoming Iraqi war and the de facto alliance between militant Islam and the international Left. Additionally, we need to recognize that there are dangerous foes here at home, a Trojan horse filled with homegrown radicals and foreign Islamic extremists.

There is no substitute for victory.

[appalachian_dweller]

ditto that!!!

[appalachian_dweller]

ditto that!!!

[swarthyguy]

And don't forget the sanctuaries in Pakistan that will be used against our troops in Afghanistan as soon as Iraq starts.

[EverOnward]

Those who believe our troops are mere mercenaries under Bush for the globalist cause should appreciate this article. They could emphasize that yet again America's sons and daughters are not the priority -- the Iraqi people (according to this article) are. I truly hope that the lives of our troops are not held in such callous disregard as this article purports it to be.