Comments on: How Will Things Play Out In Iraq? http://donklephant.com/2006/03/30/how-will-things-play-out-in-iraq/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:07:11 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: BrianOfAtlanta http://donklephant.com/2006/03/30/how-will-things-play-out-in-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-10536 BrianOfAtlanta Fri, 31 Mar 2006 16:10:36 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/03/30/how-will-things-play-out-in-iraq/#comment-10536 OK, Justin, you're a pessimist, though not an unreasonable one. John Robb had me until he got to the point where the window slamed shut. I'm sorry, but I see no window, nor does Robb point one out. He just makes the statement that it's too late now, and things are going downhill forthwith. Ignore the fact that it was the Iraqis themselves who restored order in Iraq after the mosque bombing. US troops stayed home and the Iraqi security forces delivered. I'm optimistic that they'll deliver against Al-Sadr as well. At least it seems more likely that they'll prevail vs. fall apart for no apparent reason. I was also puzzled by the "deeper entrenchment within US bases (to limit casualties)" statement. I'm not sure what John means by this. We aren't entrenched within our bases, though the bases themselves have fortifications, for obvious reasons. We're still patrolling just like we have been all along. Reduced casualties haven't come from reduced patrolling, they've come from better IED countermeasures and the elimination of some of the top bomb builders in the insurgency. Sure, we could start to entrench within our bases, but Vietnam demonstrated how that's a losing strategy against an insurgency. I doubt we'll adopt it when patrolling is working out just fine. OK, Justin, you’re a pessimist, though not an unreasonable one.

John Robb had me until he got to the point where the window slamed shut. I’m sorry, but I see no window, nor does Robb point one out. He just makes the statement that it’s too late now, and things are going downhill forthwith. Ignore the fact that it was the Iraqis themselves who restored order in Iraq after the mosque bombing. US troops stayed home and the Iraqi security forces delivered. I’m optimistic that they’ll deliver against Al-Sadr as well. At least it seems more likely that they’ll prevail vs. fall apart for no apparent reason.

I was also puzzled by the “deeper entrenchment within US bases (to limit casualties)” statement. I’m not sure what John means by this. We aren’t entrenched within our bases, though the bases themselves have fortifications, for obvious reasons. We’re still patrolling just like we have been all along. Reduced casualties haven’t come from reduced patrolling, they’ve come from better IED countermeasures and the elimination of some of the top bomb builders in the insurgency. Sure, we could start to entrench within our bases, but Vietnam demonstrated how that’s a losing strategy against an insurgency. I doubt we’ll adopt it when patrolling is working out just fine.

]]> By: GN http://donklephant.com/2006/03/30/how-will-things-play-out-in-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-10467 GN Fri, 31 Mar 2006 02:00:11 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/03/30/how-will-things-play-out-in-iraq/#comment-10467 Jeez, when are we going to consider the only question that is appropriate? Either get out ... or escalate for total domination, set a bar for surrender or death to militants, then reconstruct and turnkey when they can handle it. This isn't part of the war on terror ... it is Newark, NJ in the 1960's. A singed earth policy will never work, period. It is a corporate war, so either reorg or claim bankruptcy. I just wish they would stop screwing around and do something else. Ok, that is my rant for the evening. Now, I can't cite this because I can't recall where I saw it, but here it is anyway. Dick cheney doesn't understand why they need a warrant for anything they do ... because everything they have done thus far was unwarranted. 'night all! Jeez, when are we going to consider the only question that is appropriate? Either get out … or escalate for total domination, set a bar for surrender or death to militants, then reconstruct and turnkey when they can handle it. This isn’t part of the war on terror … it is Newark, NJ in the 1960’s. A singed earth policy will never work, period.

It is a corporate war, so either reorg or claim bankruptcy. I just wish they would stop screwing around and do something else.

Ok, that is my rant for the evening. Now, I can’t cite this because I can’t recall where I saw it, but here it is anyway. Dick cheney doesn’t understand why they need a warrant for anything they do … because everything they have done thus far was unwarranted. ‘night all!

]]> By: Meredith http://donklephant.com/2006/03/30/how-will-things-play-out-in-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-10413 Meredith Thu, 30 Mar 2006 19:30:18 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/03/30/how-will-things-play-out-in-iraq/#comment-10413 At least Justin wants to stay and clean up the mess - I say f' it. It's time to go. We planned badly, and we have caused problems. I would love to say that we should stay and fix what we've done, but I just don't think that is realistic - at least not for the remainder of Bush's term. And, to be fair, I don't think it's just Bush who can't fix this. I am doubtful that our country can fix this at all, no matter who's in charge, because we don't fully understand and appreciate the situation. There may be things we can do to help, but for now we need to leave, or at least pull to the borders and keep an eye on things. At least Justin wants to stay and clean up the mess – I say f’ it. It’s time to go. We planned badly, and we have caused problems. I would love to say that we should stay and fix what we’ve done, but I just don’t think that is realistic – at least not for the remainder of Bush’s term. And, to be fair, I don’t think it’s just Bush who can’t fix this. I am doubtful that our country can fix this at all, no matter who’s in charge, because we don’t fully understand and appreciate the situation. There may be things we can do to help, but for now we need to leave, or at least pull to the borders and keep an eye on things.

]]> By: Justin Gardner http://donklephant.com/2006/03/30/how-will-things-play-out-in-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-10398 Justin Gardner Thu, 30 Mar 2006 17:52:20 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/03/30/how-will-things-play-out-in-iraq/#comment-10398 Did you read the whole thing? If we consider that this scenario might happen, if we draw up contingency plans for something like this, we'll be able to better respond to it. Therefore, our chances of success could be greater in the long run. But yes, given where Iraq is right now...this scenario is likely. And doesn't take stones to throw words like "defeat" at me. But I think it does takes stones to admit that this could very well happen, and plan accordingly. What would you do? Did you read the whole thing? If we consider that this scenario might happen, if we draw up contingency plans for something like this, we’ll be able to better respond to it. Therefore, our chances of success could be greater in the long run. But yes, given where Iraq is right now…this scenario is likely.

And doesn’t take stones to throw words like “defeat” at me. But I think it does takes stones to admit that this could very well happen, and plan accordingly.

What would you do?

]]> By: Lonely Federalist http://donklephant.com/2006/03/30/how-will-things-play-out-in-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-10389 Lonely Federalist Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:36:18 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/03/30/how-will-things-play-out-in-iraq/#comment-10389 Well, at least let us know when you have the stones to officially declare defeat. Well, at least let us know when you have the stones to officially declare defeat.

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