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Originally posted by Webby
Nope... it is not a "Vietnam". It has a long way to go before it reaches that insane level.
BUT there is a reluctance by the Pentagon to admit there is certainly guerilla war going. This has already been acknowledged by the field commanders. To deny this is dangerous.
It is no secret the best way of attack on an invading "conventional army" is let it stay as long as it likes and conduct a sustained series of "hits" guerilla fashion. Like Palestine, Iraq has no "real" weapons and are just using any methods of attack they can. This soon pisses everyone off and screws up the propaganda of the invading nation.
The US has walked itself into a corner in both Iraq and Afghanistan with the assumption it has mighty force and therefore can control countries. It has failed to act quickly and take on the responsibility of an invading force under the terms of the Geneva Convention. Each day that passes is now creating more anti US feeling and many are now appreciative of the life they had under Saddam.
Basically the US cannot and will not control Iraq and impose its "values" on a country of which they know nothing. Iraq and it's culture existed long before the US was born. To succeed in Iraq it is necessary to win minds. That is something alien and beyond comprehension in the current US govt. Bombs can't win minds, the harder work by far, is in the aftermath. It is becoming clearer daily the Iraq people do not want a resident US invasion force.
Prediction! Bremner will be back in the US by December, - after still more deaths on both sides, - and a scenario will be on the way where US "liberation forces" are not in control, (are they at the moment?) to the level they are today. Others will be left to clean the mess up. Bush will hang on to the threads of having "achieved" something (watch CNN for the "Success in Iraq" prime time feature) in Iraq and try to divert attention to another area of the world, such as Africa, in an effort to show his "compassionate" side and attempt to prove he is not totally bad prior to his last stand at electoral success at home. He will fail in all foreign policy to the same degree he has failed the US people. Bets? 
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Japan is a success story for the US. Its culture...at the time was as foreign to ours as Mid East culture is now. They too were "fanatics". A government was forced upon them and they now enjoy the fruits of that government...being the second richest country on the earth.
FYI it was bombs and a massive show of force (16 million Americans in uniform) that converted the Japanese people. Force does work and works well when properly applied.
I seriously doubt that a massive show of force will be used in Iraq and I also doubt that the proper use of force will be applied (civilian micro management).
The very existence of North Korea and the prolonged conflict in, and ultimate withdrawal from, Vietnam, is the result of civilian micro management.