Quote:
Originally posted by KRL
You're not keeping up with the news coming from the troops themselves.
Even the non-insurgents want the Americans to leave. That's what prompted this post.
The soldiers are saying they're getting "just get the hell outta here" looks from the people they're trying to protect.
How do you propose to crush the insurgents. For your information its the majority of the population. Are you suggesting we take out millions of people?
This has to be one one your least thought out post mrking.
I'm also not saying pull out of the region. We should just pull back into Saudi Arabia and see how things go. We are accomplishing absolutely nothing right now except making the situation worse.
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The "insurgents" are estimated to be in the low tens of thousands...the population is somewhere around 27 million...thus in no way do the insurgents come anywhere close to being a majority. The insurgents are constituted of foreign fighters...former Baathists (many of which will be put on trail if captured)...people that are loyal to one or two Ayatollas (said Ayatollas trying for their own power grab)...people loyal to Saddam/Iraq and some that simply want to kill Americans for whatever their individual reasons.
I am suggesting that the handful of areas (which represents about 10% of the geographical area of Iraq) where the "insurgents" are being allowed safe harbor...and succor be destroyed...and if and when they began to re-establish themselves they be destroyed again. In the short run there will be many killed and maimed on the Iraqi side because the "insurgent's" safe harbors can be decimated primarily by air power. In the long run it will save lives...on both sides...for to prolong the conflict will cost more lives on both sides. There is not any "gentle" way to conduct war and accomplish the mission.
FYI...90% of the geographical area of Iraq is reasonably secure...and people go about their daily basis. In most areas there is more electricity...more drinkable water...more schools...more and better medical care...than pre invasion. There are more and newer automobiles on the roads and highways of Iraq than pre invasion. Food is plentiful...businesses are open...and doing reasonably well. I have seen several documentaries that have been produced by various orgs going from city/village to city/village...and for the most part...people are goiing about their business. The news media...world wide...report about 99% negavtive and not the positive about every event in every country in the world...thus the people of the world tend to think that the world is going to hell in a bread basket...when that is not the case.
FYI...I am in personal contact with 25 or so military people that I know and many of those either served under me or with me during the 1st Gulf War...that are either currently serving in Iraq or have served in Iraq and will probably be going back to Iraq.