Posted on 12/18/2014 9:49:45 PM PST by tcrlaf
To you as well.
the Taliban fought differently...yes, neither theater can be compared to each other. Highly different in the way attacks were carried out...the Taliban would crawl through freezing rain to get close to a US base to attack it...the Shia or Sunni in Iraq would use children to walk up to a check point and then blow that kid up remotely if need be...
The Taliban didn’t need to gain ground, they understood that persistent attacks would win out...whereas in Iraq, there were at least 3 competing forces vying for control of the region - or at least their respective region
By the way, which theater did you operate out of?
America Special Forces decimate ISIS militants? Expect our muslim n’ chief to rebuke our soldiers claiming they are fighting a J.V. team while our guys are professionals. This is obama’s way of reshaping our military - “Pun”
-— Now, they ARE fighting, ON THE GROUND. -—
Let me be clear. He meant a specific patch of ground in a specific place, as he has always said. He is not at liberty to discuss the matter any further when there are lawsuits pending somewhere.
Never been in the military. Hope I never have to be, given the knucklehead ROE's that have been imposed. I've got to hand it to the guys (like you) who signed up, they have more tolerance for arbitrary authority than I do.
Re the Iraqi insurgents - it's obvious that they figured out a way to get us to leave, faster than the Afghan Taliban. And the Taliban has repeatedly staged attacks against schools and the families of Afghan government officials. We could call Iraqi insurgents cowardly, but if they were cowardly, they'd surrender and stop fighting. It would have been nuts for them to go after our guys in face-to-face combat. And it's not as if pushing a button to fire a stand-off weapon is a particularly good example of face-to-face combat. I think a better word is ruthless. Ultimately, I suspect the reason for the ROE's that give human shield tactics room to flourish are we have (1) an all-volunteer force, (2) a Democratic president with whom the press is deeply in love, (3) a conflict in which an invasion of the continental US was never a possibility and (4) casualties that are relatively low by historical standards. Change a few of these variables, and we have Korean War-style ROE's, where GI's were allowed to hose down refugee columns they suspected of harboring NKPA infiltrators.
The ROE for the military were far like real than compared to PSD....the reason they are cowards is that they use children...even the Viet Cong did that...but not to the extent the moslems have done....being a coward is one thing moslems do beat me...our politicans are another issue altogether. ...
I used to get all worked up about that. On further reflection, I don't blame 'em. The kill ratios are anywhere from 10 to 20 to 1 in our favor. Pretty soon, they run out of willing and able combatants. If the tables were turned, would we nuke 'em? Sure. Between using children and using nukes - there's a difference, but it's not that big a distinction.
The issue here is that our ROE's are predicated on them behaving a certain way. If they breach that unwritten understanding, perhaps our ROE's need to resemble the chevauchee. It's not as if raiding, killing and burning is foreign to the Arab experience - it's having that done to them that's foreign.
yes our oil and gas production is very strategically choking the saudi and dubai money. we will see how that plays out. I thot the Israeli finds were gas. where did they find oil? and yes the kurds are fighting our war for us. funny that a people with a name like kurds could be that noble.
If Iraqis do not have the fortitude to defend their nation from ISIS invaders after so many Americans have sacrificed their lives and treasure, we are fools to pour good lives and money after bad. Time to take care of and rebuild the USA and screw the ME.. We need it.
“It’s not as if raiding, killing and burning is foreign to the Arab experience - it’s having that done to them that’s foreign.”
I would have to respectfully disagree.
Beyond the attacks on Coalition Military personnel and US contractors working within the PSD realm - what hey did to each other in their attempt to fill the vacuum of Saddam’s exit was something not even Rob Zombie could come up with in his horror movies...I saw it first hand and it still effects greatly...ROE’s are just one element in multiple host of them. In my experienced opinion, we have been forced to combat Islam because of its past and current track record on the tragedy of targeting innocent lives - I have a great need to protect my family and nation as a whole - where they seek destruction at all levels...there is huge difference between an worthless Arab and those serving US interests. In the end - it’s about control and who controls what - just like Saddam all the way back to Muhammad and the tribal society that was intertwined and covered by a religious cloak called Islam.
But they didn’t fight. They honored Obama’s promise and ran away. So it doesn’t count yet until they start setting IEDs.
Good points & thanks.
“I said, it was part of the Ottoman Empire” — btw, i often equate ottoman empire or end of it with british mandate in that part of the world. I meant Before ottoman empire to be precise. No matter. Essentially same point on that subject.
do mariners think of themselves as boots? Ah, Corpsman! Luv them special. Have you heard the Marines will have their own medical MOS come next year? The Marines are sooo into tradition I really think this is another way to rip their hearts out. either that or make them so independent of the navy it will be easier to annihilate the organization but the only reason I’m saying that now is because few will read this post.
“Does NO ONE remember that they said the same thing about our early troops in Vietnam? That they were just advisers?”
***************
I do!
“Have you heard the Marines will have their own medical MOS come next year?”
No didn’t know. Interesting though.
Anyhow for the festive season, Merry Christmas & a happy 2015.
Well stated.
I’ve always associated the Ottoman Empire with the Hun, not the British Empire.
mark
So the BuMed isn’t good enough?
OK, then let's just go with a couple...three thousand.
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