tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post116481221129479247..comments2023-11-05T06:59:04.593-05:00Comments on Pen and Sword: Bush's Iraq: Son of Stay the CourseJeff Huberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-1164897963228135642006-11-30T09:46:00.000-05:002006-11-30T09:46:00.000-05:00Shargash, Kill the wabbit? Martin K, Thanks for st...Shargash, <BR/><BR/>Kill the wabbit? <BR/><BR/>Martin K, <BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by and commenting. <BR/><BR/>I think you've identified two of the main fulcrum points. I'm one who thinks the biggest flaw was invading in the first place. The notion that everything would fall in place once Hussein was gone was nuts. That we didn't have an immediate plan for post hostilities was beyond criminal. <BR/><BR/>Drop by again. <BR/><BR/>Best, <BR/><BR/>JeffJeff Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-1164892936668114022006-11-30T08:22:00.000-05:002006-11-30T08:22:00.000-05:00Sir.As a former norwegian military man, I must say...Sir.<BR/><BR/>As a former norwegian military man, I must say that it is deeply satisfying to see rational US military voices. (Another one is to be found at rangeragainstwar.blogspot.com , btw.) Watching the whole Iraqi debacle is like watching a classical tragedy. The level of incompetence is amazing, and the whole war seems to be built on ad-hoc decisions and improvisation.<BR/><BR/>There are two fulcrum-points in this campaign as I see it: The demobilization of the Iraqi army, and the rape of Fallujah. By the demobbing, you created for yourself 250000+ trained armed potential enemies. By destroying Fallujah in response to the killing of four US mercenaries, you made the central clans of the Sunnis your eternal enemies, beyond cost-efficiency rationale. In effect, you first created the enemy, and then made sure he would fight to the death.<BR/><BR/>Itll be interesting to see how many missiles the mahdi-army have in store if there comes a showdown in the near future. The resistance of Hezbollah must have set a clear tactical precedent for the shiite forces, so if the shit hits the fan, expect a lot of incoming fire on US bases. Is there any doctrinal response to missile-assaults except Stand and Die?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-1164836217089778142006-11-29T16:36:00.000-05:002006-11-29T16:36:00.000-05:00Peace with honor, you mean -- smells like peace wi...Peace with honor, you mean -- smells like peace with honor...<BR/><BR/>The Looney Tunes characters, at least, had the good sense to END the silliness after 10-12 minutes per episode.Jeff (no, the other one)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04030611459552848949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-1164825394316236212006-11-29T13:36:00.000-05:002006-11-29T13:36:00.000-05:00Mike, I'm starting to feel good about Webb too. I...Mike, <BR/><BR/>I'm starting to feel good about Webb too. <BR/><BR/>I love the smell of Vietnamization, Part Deux in the morning. It smells like defeat.Jeff Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-1164813957063028162006-11-29T10:25:00.000-05:002006-11-29T10:25:00.000-05:00I think so too, Anonymous. Ignoring Syria and Ira...I think so too, Anonymous. Ignoring Syria and Iran is ludicrous.Jeff Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-1164813690795920122006-11-29T10:21:00.000-05:002006-11-29T10:21:00.000-05:00Great post Jeff. This is an excellent example of h...Great post Jeff. This is an excellent example of highly paid/very powerful people being fundamentally incompetent (and getting rewarded for it), while people who actually know something (i.e. most of the rest of us) are a buncha greasy shlubs. Happens in every single large organization I suspect.<BR/><BR/>Anyhoo, the only real "solution" to this catastrophe (IMHO) is to engage Iran and Syria. Basically we'd need to sit down with them, treat them as equals (which they are in the region), and make a multi-lateral deal involving trade, security, etc. <BR/><BR/>The US cannot "win" by itself, no matter how hard Bush or his allies will it.<BR/><BR/>I think Iran+Syria option has a higher chance of reducing mass slaughter prior to and after our inevitable pullout than just picking up our stuff and going home.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com