[Vermont Lt]

I spoke to a college friend a few weeks ago. He was in the invasion in ‘03. He told the the ROE was pretty much “If they were holding a gun, shoot them.”

He went back in ‘07. He told me the ROE had changed so much that his troops were afraid to engage the enemy because of the legal issues that defined the “present danger.” He said it was just crazy.

[rollo tomasi]

Shock and Awe was inevitable in order to get Hussein out, but after that Iraq drifted into a "building" exercise while fundamentalists were taking advantage of the "hearts and minds" stuff and capturing territories. Then came the surge/rinse and repeat/Obama/lack of status of forces agreement/ capitulation. Another fine mess the US MENA strategy is causing for future generations.

Fear and force are the only weapons Fundamentalists respect/flee from (Because that is how they operate in a land where people desire to be ruled instead of autonomous-rule). Martel and Prince of Wallachia understood that concept rather effectively.

In Iran there is a totalitarian system that establishes fear and force. In Syria's Assad and under Hussein, fear and force are/were implemented to keep the various sects in line; the Islamic as well as Christians and Pagans for instance. Problem is self-government in the United States is a dying concept which is why fear and force are popular campaign strategies/legislation.