Posted by Bill Faith on December 31, 2006 at 06:37 PM in Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est | Permalink

Comments

Posted by: James

The problem with people who like to group to
the "left-right" idealogies is that the two
groups talk pass one another.

A good example is the 3000 casualties in Iraq.

Comparing past wars is pointless unless medical
methods are introduced into the calculation.

For example: In Korea the casualty report is around
36,000; however the true death toll would have been
far higher if not for the new ideas of medical
helicopters, and MASH units near the front.

In Iraq the low casualties are mainly due to
the result of superb medical units, (Far better
than in Korea and Vietnam), and body armor.

If you look at life threatening wounds
suffered in Iraq using World War 2 medical
methods the death toll for Iraq would be
another 10,000 dead; for a total of 13,000
after almost four years of fighting.

Casualty comparing is foolish and a waste
of thinking.

The one interesting observation about Iraq
at the end of 2006, is that nobody...and I
mean nobody in a position of power, is
talking about Iraq as a successful operation.

They have kicked the tin-can down the road
as to what the definition of a success mission
will be - and how it is to be achieved.

Btw - President Bush does not mind if the Iraqi
government falls. Notice that the old idea of
U.S. forces standing down and leaving Iraq when
Iraqi forces stand up and take over combat
operations, does not mean that somewhere in the
future those same Iraq forces are defeated.

The war is still on. Fighting will continue, The
Insurgency is allowed a chance to take out the
Iraqi government. This is a "Tag Team" war. The
U.S. is growing tired of the fighting and needs
someone to carry on the fight...NOT end the fight.

The U.S. will give the new Iraqi government every
chance to stop the insurgency, but if they lose....
they lose; And losing IS an exceptable outcome for
the Bush Administration. (They just don't talk
about it.)

Most folks miss this observation about Bush's
stand down/stand up idea.

Another point most folks miss, is that the reason
there is no effective National Iraq Army after
four years is that there isn't the basic building
material for an Iraq National Army - a mass of
people who want to form such an army - and hold
to it. That material won't exist in Iraq for
another 10 to 20 years; after all clan warfare
is finally finished.

2006 was hard time. 2007+ will be harder. It's
the nature of the beast.

The thing to remember soldiers are not just
bodies for counting purposes. They are not
little pieces of paper on a battle map. They
are a somebody with families, and they have
dreams.

So everyone needs to stop bickering: Left
and Right. Stop blaming others, (Iraqi's
included). If you make a mistake, stand up
and say it. Say you failed. Ask others what
can be done to fix it - honestly.

If it can't be fixed, say it. Sometimes the
best thing to do is walk away AFTER you have
admitted things went wrong; And do your best
to help as the future demands of you.

It's a hard thing to do.

Thanks for letting me post a long comment.

Happy New Year.

Posted by: James | Jan 1, 2007 1:15:52 AM

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