Lineral Bias in Iraq

Blind to Victory: How the Liberal Press Doesn’t Want to See the Dawn of a New American Century

April 13th 2003 – Our victory in Iraq is the result of one of the most audacious and successful military operations in history. Even neglecting the certain degradation of the Iraqi army over the last decade of sanctions, the planning, command & control, flexibility, training and discipline required to move 100,000 troops 500 miles, across hostile terrain, to arrive at a destination ready to fight, is reflective of the finest military machine in human history.

You wouldn’t know it from much of the reporting we’ve seen throughout the fight, imbedded reporters and Fox News aside.

Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to the New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post and other liberal media mouthpieces looked something like this:

Coalition aircraft launch a “decapitation” raid on Saddam’s presumed location, probably missing him. As a result, ground forces are committed earlier than planned, disrupting the smooth flow of forces into the battle. Facing unexpected resistance from Baathist irregulars in Basra, British Marines become bogged down on the city’s outskirts. Coalition pleas to Iraqi commanders to give up, rather than face annihilation, fail to convince, and expected mass surrenders do not occur. US mechanized columns advance too rapidly into Iraq, leaving pockets of resistance behind and overextending their vulnerable supply lines. With 100,000 troops fighting their way to Baghdad, the coalition suffers a severe setback, as a helicopter is lost to enemy fire near Nasseriyah. Sudden sandstorms engulf coalition forces in the midst of the Iraqi desert, preventing effective air support, slowing their advance to a crawl, and leaving many units stranded without adequate food or water and dwindling ammunition. To deal with the severe threat to their lines of communication, coalition commanders are forced to bring in the 4th Infantry Division as well as diverting 2,000 troops from Yemen to the Iraqi front. Suicide bombers, snipers and sullen crowds greet Coalition soldiers as they cautiously move through semi-deserted Iraqi towns. Baghdad Falls!? Some Iraqis openly berate American soldiers on the streets of Baghdad. A small crowd tears down a statue of Saddam across from the Ministry of Information. Mass looting ensues and coalition forces face continued stiff resistance including snipers and suicide bombers. Saddam and his sons are nowhere to be found. Coalition forces expect desperate resistance as they advance against Saddam’s last remaining stronghold, the city of his birth, Tikrit. The quagmire of occupation beckons. Operation Iraqi Freedom, as it actually rolled out:

Demonstrating extraordinary flexibility, coalition forces launch a “decapitation” raid in an attempt to kill Saddam as the battle for Iraq begins. Iraqi command & control is paralyzed, indicating that he is either dead or injured. Facing unexpected resistance from Baathist irregulars in Basra, British Marines focus on securing the port of Um Qasr to begin the delivery of desperately needed relief supplies. Meanwhile, the Iraqi terrorist guerillas make use of human shields to hinder coalition troops. US mechanized columns conduct the most rapid advance in the history of warfare, leaving pockets of resistance behind to be mopped up later. Iraq resistance is relatively light due to the rapidity of the maneuver. Attempts by Iraqi forces to disrupt allied supply lines are easily defeated with overwhelming losses to the attackers. Coalition losses remain extremely light with less than 100 dead, eight captured and the loss of one Apache helicopter, one F/A-18 fighter, and an A-10 attack aircraft. Although delayed by severe sandstorms, the disciplined US forces continue to move slowly along their lines of advance. There are minor disruptions, but still, food, fuel and munitions continue to be delivered to the front lines without serious delay. Facing a refusal by Turkey to allow the opening of a full northern front using the 4th Infantry Division, the troops are diverted to Kuwait to await the arrival of their ship borne equipment enroute through the Suez Canal. The delay causes no apparent impact on the pacing of the campaign. Baghdad Falls!! Cheering crowds surround American soldiers. Jeering crowds tear down statues of Saddam across a liberated Iraq. Remaining resistance crumbles as Baathist officials run for cover. Saddam and his sons are nowhere to be found. Kurdish fighters seize the oil center of Kirkuk in the north. Mosul falls. Coalition forces advance against Saddam’s last remaining stronghold, the city of his birth, Tikrit. A new, free and democratic Iraq is about to be born. In the news coverage of this war, the press, lacking sufficient material for an Earth-shattering scoop every day, turned expected bumps along the road to victory into failures in planning and execution.

No one in the professional military ever expects a “fault free” war. All plans fail upon first contact with the enemy, to paraphrase an old saw. It is the very ability of our armed forces to respond to contingencies, change the plan on the fly, and still decisively carry the day, that demonstrate the real success of General Frank’s campaign.

As the endgame comes to a close, with US Marines entering Tikrit, we can be justifiably proud of the American military and our allies.

By all accounts, the Arabs and their Russian muses are in “shock and awe” as they witness this demonstration of crushing war-fighting prowess.

American power reached its 20th century apex at the surrender of Japan in 1945. It wasn’t used to full effect for the next 58 years; first for fear of a nuclear confrontation with the Soviet Union, then for fear of upsetting the “new world order” of the post cold war “peace”.

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Actually the second American Century.

This year, 2003, is a watershed year in history. It is coupled with 9/11, so may be looked on as a decade of change, but this year will be the centerpiece. It could well mark the end of radical Islam. Even Indonesia has reacted with the arrest of a radical cleric. The leaders in countries which have been blackmailed into submission by Saudi sponsored terror are beginning to see the writing on the wall.

Iraq has the potential to be more western than any Arab state. Iran is a close second. Western culture will infect Islam and eventually either kill it or force it to become westernized to survive. Along the way, a lot of fanatics will die.

"We certainly got the attention of the "Arab Street", not to mention citizens and world leaders across the globe."

Thomas Friedman had an interesting column in the NY Times today which encapsulates neatly the effect this war is having on the "Arab street."

For decades now, it has been more important for Arab "pride" to "stand up against the American Satan" than to live under democratic popular rule and enjoy the fruits of modern progress. That is, "Arab pride" would rather live under oppression in impoverished societies than allow modern Western thought, morals, and living standards to prevail in SW Asia.

Friedman writes that the Arab street is going thru a tremendous upheaval of self-examination following the Lightning Iraq War.

I don't often agree with Friedman, but I do agree with his column today. He says that if we can help nurture an open and free representative society in Iraq, it could be THE major turning point for the entire region. Of course, that's what President Dubya has been thinking all along.

Michael

By all accounts, the Arabs and their Russian muses are in “shock and awe” as they witness this demonstration of crushing war-fighting prowess.

American power reached its 20th century apex at the surrender of Japan in 1945. It wasn’t used to full effect for the next 58 years; first for fear of a nuclear confrontation with the Soviet Union, then for fear of upsetting the “new world order” of the post cold war “peace”.

I disagree that we've used our power to full effect in the Iraq war. We have used about 1/4 - 1/3 of our existing military power, but have awesome unused potential power. The good news for us, and the extremely bad news for those opposed to us, is that we are not even that ticked off - yet. We don't really have blood in our eye - yet. And those people had better pray that we never reach such a condition, because then they will see Hell on Earth (prior to dying, along with lots of their comrades). You see, if properly motivated (as we were in WW2) this country will mobilize. In WW2 we had 130 million people and had armed forces of 12 million. Now, we have nearly 300 million people, which translates to armed forces of maybe 28 million - and that doesn't account for the fact that our agriculture, mining and manufacturing bases are all vastly more efficient than they were 60 years ago, which would free up additional millions for service. I'd like to ask those opposed to us if they'd like to face the 21st century equivalent of the force we put together in WW2? Because if we are sufficiently motivated, within a few short years we can put together a force of 200 Army divisions and 25 Marine divisions, all capable of being landed on any coastline in the world by a Navy of 40 carrier task forces and supported by an Air Force of 10,000 combat aircraft. To put all of this into context, we defeated Iraq in less than 3 weeks with about 3 divisions.

Would it cost a lot? Absolutely - multiple trillions. But Americans have shown on numerous occasions that they'd rather be a bit (or even a lot) poorer than be dead or enslaved.

I'd strongly suggest that nobody motivate us to mobilize like this.

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