What kind of co-operation did the Americans get from those hamlets they left untouched? The Koreans wanted the enemy to die; they made it clear to the population that sheltering the enemy was a death sentence, and it was a message well understood.
So long as our stated mission is to help Iraq build it's society we can't go around and wipe out the local inhabitants regardless of provocation. If we reach the point where we decide that the whole population is suspect and should be leveled on sight then what the hell are we doing there to begin with?
As I recall, we punished the hell out of Germany and forced it to submit before reconstructing them. The problem with Iraq is that the Islamists are not cowed enough. Nor are there clear consequences seen for violating civil peace.
How they will ever overcome the sectarian hatred is beyond me, and I think that that will be the eventual reason for failure. Not the military or the Democrats, but the fact that having saved the Iraqis from Saddam Hussein we could not save them from themselves.
I believe that in future that no war should be based upon anything to do with "hearts and minds". Kill the enemy and go home.
Regards, Ivan
I have come to the sad conclusion that Bush lacks the will and leadership abilities to bring this war to a successful conclusion. He doesn't 'get it' about barbaric Islam (rape, slaughter, Dhimmitude), even though his rhetoric AT TIMES might lead one to think otherwise.
Unless something lights a fire under his ass, he is headed for permanent political disgrace, and we have lost round One of the so-called GWOT.
You are dead right Ivan, we don't need more troops, we need new ROE. I agree with the DimRats that sending more troops is just sending more targets under current policies.
We need to have everyone in Iraq understand if you mess with us you are dead. That is the only way you win a war. If fire comes from a house, poof, the house disappears, from a mosque, boom, no more minarets (added benefit, the loudspeakers are gone.) For this we do not need more troops and/or strategic bombing, the Arty, choopers and A-10's in theatre are plenty.
AMEN!
..."Kill the enemy and go home."
I was going to respond to this in relation to the "No nation building" platform we were promised. But reading on I see my comments have been more than adequately covered by others.
I think this "sectarian hatred" line is crap! There are people here in the US who still have strong feelings regarding the civil war. Take a look at Bosnia. How long were they under control and after the dictator died, it went to hell in a handbasket. I think we need to tell these people to get their act together or else. The next bombing against Americans, take one block in the city and decimate it. And if need be - God forgive me for saying this - decimate everyone in that block. You need to have the people more afraid of us then them. Winning hearts and minds - as far as I know - has never worked. Hell, it doesn't even work in the states in our crime riddern inner cities.