[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

But a large per-centage of our causalities have come from IED's hitting our supply convoys, if you have more troops then you have more convoys...and higher causalities.

[endthematrix]

I think you can accomplish much to thwart insurgencies through HUMINT. One problem IMO is that the US is lacking in Arab culture.

Ernest, I didn't mean to bash, but their was pre-war intel that dealt with the subject of insurgency...that said many other things were predicted.

If spacemen were predicted to land and fight in Iraq, I'd want the US to ready for it. Hindsight is 20/20 of course, but nothing wrong with preparedness.

[jmc1969]

The best treatment for IEDs is exactly what we did on Route Irish also called the Airport Road. Flood the damn area with troops and set up road blocks, checks, and block unnecessary access to the road with pits and barbed wire.

In doing so we were able to turn what was once known as the Highway of Death into one of the safest roads in Iraq.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/03/AR2005110302600.html