Gung-ho US Troops Urged To Be More British

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 5-3-2006 | Francis Harris

[Finalapproach29er]

A-men.

Clown is on the mark.

[Thombo2]

"Gen Chiarelli sent articles(to subordinates)from British newspapers criticising the sometimes tough tactics used by American soldiers..."Generals like Chiarelli get American soldiers killed.This guy needs to get the boot.

[liliesgrandpa]

I see the "don't ask, don't tell" policy has made it up the chain of command.

The politically correct people are in charge now, thanks Bush.

[geopyg]

I've read lots of stories about how our troops are building relationships with the locals and getting results. I'm a BIT put off by the "English" way and the "Wrong" way tone of the article.

[EyeGuy]

"I read the news today, oh boy
The English Army had just won the war..."

Lennon-McCartney: Historians they weren't.........

[Blood of Tyrants]

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[airborne]

Maybe they should learn to speak Arabic too.

According to post # 16, the General does not speak Arabic either.

[lowbridge]

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES Seattle University - BS - Political Science

There's where he went wrong.

[processing please hold]

If that's going to be their orders...then bring them home. Their job is finished.

[Lost Humanist]

I wasn't trying to say there is a 'right' way or a 'wrong' way. Both approaches are valid, but in different context of military conflict.
The US no doubt is about as close to 100% as you can get for the prosecution of War.
The British approach is better suited to a kind of policing operation, once 'major combat operations' are over and done with.
Its a trade off, but I would say a necessary one if we are to get the Iraqi's on board as a nation. This is now a policing role, where 'force' really must be used as a last resort. The faster the Iraqis are on board in heart and mind, then the faster all of our boys and girls can come home. It will save lives, on all sides, in the long run.
Look how long it took the UK army to get over the 'Bloody Sunday' massacre. That was a perfect recruiting tool for the IRA, and we learned that such acts are in the end counter-productive.

[lowbridge]

Gung-ho US troops urged to be more British

I say, Zarqawi old chap, how about a spot of tea?

[Lost Humanist]

Wouldn't work. The Arabs dont take milk in thir tea...

[red devil 40]

i see someone has access to GOMO.........

[geopyg]

-- I wasn't trying to say there is a 'right' way or a 'wrong' way. Both approaches are valid, but in different context of military conflict.---

Totally agree. I was meaning the tone of the original article from the UK - with its "superior" attitude. And while I'm sure we've learned a lot from them on "policing" issues, I think we learned lots of lessons on our own as well.

What is the quote for the Marines? Something like "No better friend, no worse enemy"?

[managusta]

British tactics have enabled Muqtar Sadr to set up a massive militia financed by Iran in the Basra area.

The same British tactics the author espouses were wasted on 30 yrs of warfare against the IRA, despite having a spy in every meeting of the IRA general council.One missile could have saved hundreds of lives.

The British military way, I am sad to say,has turned into the way of the pussy....I know I served for 24yrs in the organization.

Most folks do not know that British NCO's carry upto 18 colored cards. Which they have to refer too when confronted by an incident.

Each card lays out the details of :- use of armed response(yellow card), use of non lethal weapons (pink card),use of CS gas(white card),powers of arrest(blue card),vehicle control(green card),use of an ATGW(red and white card),use of a SAW,etc, etc.

Remember folks, the 20 yr old kid in charge of a "Brick" (four man patrol) who is taking incoming fire HAS to respond within the constraints imposed on him/her by the attorneys and set in stone on those cards.

Thomas Atkins deserves far better leadership than the current sad generalship.

Thank God American Generals are not falling for this crap.

[Lost Humanist]

The original article? Yeah, our press can be a bit like that. You just have to syphon out the buls**t and extrapolate the facts.
US much better at policing than at the start of the war. You cant change an army operating system over a few years, it takes decades. Promising signs.

[Lost Humanist]

"The same British tactics the author espouses were wasted on 30 yrs of warfare against the IRA, despite having a spy in every meeting of the IRA general council.One missile could have saved hundreds of lives."
And make a bunch of Marxist devils into martyrs that creates a thousand new IRA terrorist at the outrage of the incident, and we would still be cleaning up the mess to this day. Instead, they are locked in political discourse where they cant do any more harm. It might not be flash, but its effective.

[Stormcrow]

Note to Donald Rumsfeld -

Relieve this PC drone of his command immediately.

[lowbridge]

The Arabs dont take milk in thir tea...

What? No milk in their tea? Who do those heathen barbarians think they are? Yankee Americans?

[RobbyS]

Not. No commander should expose his men to unnecessary risk. The Brits have not had to deal with Sunnis very much. Furthermore, commanders should use some common sense. Never send patrols out in a predictable way. For guys in the 4th got killed because their commander used bad judgement.