Americans in Horn of Africa Using New Weapon in Terror War

American Forces Press Service ^ | Jim Garamone

[SevenMinusOne]

We are not going to agree. All I have to say is we need to conquer the Middle East like the Greeks did in Persia. Complete cultural conquest to the extent that the world knows very little about their pre-Hellenic past.

Spoken by someone who won't have their own gun in the fight and life on the line (most likely).

But more importantly you can't do that militarily. You do that be spreading the values of freedom and self-worth. Which is exactly what we are doing. These are two values that for far too long have been denied to the citizens of the ME. They are now spreading.

Thank God the adults are in charge. As I said, we have fought and continue to fight the most successful unconventional war in history.

[Centurion2000]

Does "winning the hearts and minds" really work? Honest question.

I'd prefer we used the Roman approach "Let them hate so long as they fear"

It's a lot less work and is more effective.

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Let's say for the sake of argument we spend a kazillion taxpayers dollars to build it up. When all is done and we leave, what's to stop the warlords and what is called a government in name only to just step in and take control? Now, all our money is down the drain and the people will hate us for leaving them in the lurch.

[processing please hold]

I'd prefer we used the Roman approach "Let them hate so long as they fear"

It's a lot less work and is more effective.

Agreed. I like your approach.

[oldbrowser]

Does "winning the hearts and minds" really work? Honest question.

It should be called the "ATLAS" project because we are attempting to carry the whole world on our backs.

[Killborn]

Ask most Vets and the Vietnamese. Especially ask the VC. They are notorious for punishing "collaborators". One kid got his arm chopped off because he received a vaccination from the "imperialist pigs."

"Oh no, can't have ANY of them have good opinions for the invaders. They are all evil and if you don't agree with our Commissars then you are evil and traitorous and stupid and greedy and evil and American and...did we mention evil?

Now go to the reeducation camps where you will have your fingers pulled out while we blather on about the glories of the Vietnamese People's Republic."

We didn't lose Nam because of hearts and minds. We lost because of treason and stupidity. Funny. Those who claim to be the people's greatest advocates end up killing more than their alleged enemies.