[LadyDoc]

The Republican Guard's much touted "expertise" is not in combat with fighting forces, but in brutal, KGB style oppression directed at the Iraqi people.

Excellent point.

In Dunnigan's book HOW TO MAKE WAR, he brings up the same point about dictator's armies...who are used to terrorizing unarmed terrified civilians, but who cave in when confronted with a determined and trained soldier.

This is why "peacekeeping" degrades combat units, and why O'Reilly's rants that we need troops on the border would be bad for our army: peacekeeping and police work are not the same thing as fighting a war...and indeed destroys the skills needed for combat...

[Welsh Rabbit]

This is why "peacekeeping" degrades combat units, and why O'Reilly's rants that we need troops on the border would be bad for our army: peacekeeping and police work are not the same thing as fighting a war...and indeed destroys the skills needed for combat...

Exactly. I usually agree with O'Reilly, but I find his "troops on the border" obsession ridiculous. Although not a military man myself, my father is a major general (2 star) in the US army, and according to him, no professional military man considers permanent guard duty against a non-combatant force a worthy career. The border crisis is a civil issue.