tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post116680747792018192..comments2024-03-26T05:18:53.709-04:00Comments on Pen and Sword: Iraq: Prisoners of War PropagandaJeff Huberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-1167000382732261562006-12-24T17:46:00.000-05:002006-12-24T17:46:00.000-05:00Mk, The administration isn't explaining its polici...Mk, <BR/><BR/>The administration isn't explaining its policies and strategies in rational terms because it can't, because the strategies and policies aren't rational.Jeff Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-1166995489303396992006-12-24T16:24:00.000-05:002006-12-24T16:24:00.000-05:00I still do not see what exactly the surge-option i...I still do not see what exactly the surge-option is going to DO, once it is in effect. Sadr City is too big, Anbar-province is nearly lost already, and the shia-fractions are divided. What is the mission? Who are you going to train? How do you measure wich shias are good shias and who are bad? What is the Bush-vision of "victory"?<BR/><BR/>On norwegian state-radio today, on a summation of the year, it was noted that the current administration is the first one who has completely stopped explaining its policies in rational scientific terms and instead relied on soundbites and spin to sell the voters talking-points. The title of the half-hour long radio-show on Norways most respected channel was "USA, at war with truth". This is a conservative radio as well, and is usually very pro-western.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-1166893107244700192006-12-23T11:58:00.000-05:002006-12-23T11:58:00.000-05:00(1.)"The surge option has been referred to in Pent...(1.)"The surge option has been referred to in Pentagon circles as the "double down" strategy. A more accurate name would be "all in," because if the gamble doesn't work, we'll pretty much be all done." (2.)"I was also wondering when the stop loss efforts would hit the point of diminishing returns."<BR/>These surge plans are at least three years too late. The continuation of ideological propaganda as faux legitimate strategy is madness and doomed to failure. A few thousand 'trusted' Iraqi troops will not ultimately stand up for American interests in a civil war. Rumsfeld's passion for high tech robotic weapons and neglect of historically sound strategy has left our military weakened and in a general comparison reminds me of Napoleon's morass in Russia. It seems to us the diminishing returns are all ready here. Even a rush draft is too late at this juncture. America's civilian directors thought they could stand up an empire without boots on the ground and on the cheap. The result is already manifesting its self in diminishing returns. If I had a son or daughter in Iraq I would be outraged that their lives were expendable as the price of diminishing returns. To justify such an attitude as the contractual understanding of a volunteer army is a blasphemous sophistry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-1166884134536163702006-12-23T09:28:00.000-05:002006-12-23T09:28:00.000-05:00Of a double dose of something virulent. I'm start...Of a double dose of something virulent. I'm starting to think this is already a done deal.Jeff Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-1166850970527428412006-12-23T00:16:00.000-05:002006-12-23T00:16:00.000-05:00Unit rotations are usually planned at least a year...Unit rotations are usually planned at least a year in advance. That means any increase has been in the works for that long or it's going to take that many more troops from the next rotation schedule. I haven't heard which units will be sent so I'm leaning towards the last option. "All in" it is. I was also wondering when the stop loss efforts would hit the point of diminishing returns. As I understand it, folks with nominal 4 year enlistments are being held for the full 8 (the last 4 would normally have been inactive reserve). We should be getting to the point where the first wave of these people will be able to get out. "Double down" seems more like "double whammy".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com