Comments on: In the field with the Iraqi Army http://donklephant.com/2006/08/21/in-the-field-with-the-iraqi-army/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:56:10 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Bob Aman http://donklephant.com/2006/08/21/in-the-field-with-the-iraqi-army/comment-page-1/#comment-63203 Bob Aman Tue, 22 Aug 2006 17:49:50 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/08/21/in-the-field-with-the-iraqi-army/#comment-63203 On the other hand, the war is already outrageously expensive. Sending the troops we actually need would only make it more expensive. But it's a moot point because the troops don't actually exist, and nobody actually wants to sign up for the job. On the other hand, the war is already outrageously expensive. Sending the troops we actually need would only make it more expensive. But it’s a moot point because the troops don’t actually exist, and nobody actually wants to sign up for the job.

]]> By: Eural http://donklephant.com/2006/08/21/in-the-field-with-the-iraqi-army/comment-page-1/#comment-63001 Eural Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:48:21 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/08/21/in-the-field-with-the-iraqi-army/#comment-63001 We've been over this ground before but it boils down to this - to really win in Iraq we have to put in more troops; this administration will not be able to convince Americans to do this (they had the chance in 2003 and blew it royally); the solution is for a true national leader (Dem or Rep I don't care which) who can build a true national coalition and lead this country in a time of war - not a partisan hack and his stooges who are too busy demonizing their political opponents and feeding at the trough to focus on our greatest threat since the USSR. Sadly, the list for a great leader is pretty short right now. If things are really bad off what about a bipartisan ticket? Do you guys think that would work or would the rabid right and left sink it? Any suggestions? We’ve been over this ground before but it boils down to this – to really win in Iraq we have to put in more troops; this administration will not be able to convince Americans to do this (they had the chance in 2003 and blew it royally); the solution is for a true national leader (Dem or Rep I don’t care which) who can build a true national coalition and lead this country in a time of war – not a partisan hack and his stooges who are too busy demonizing their political opponents and feeding at the trough to focus on our greatest threat since the USSR.

Sadly, the list for a great leader is pretty short right now. If things are really bad off what about a bipartisan ticket? Do you guys think that would work or would the rabid right and left sink it? Any suggestions?

]]> By: Joshua http://donklephant.com/2006/08/21/in-the-field-with-the-iraqi-army/comment-page-1/#comment-62974 Joshua Mon, 21 Aug 2006 19:16:48 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/08/21/in-the-field-with-the-iraqi-army/#comment-62974 The trouble with the Democrats is that by and large, their base is still fixated on water under the bridge - how we got into the war in the first place - and that is likely coloring the Democrats' arguments over how to get out of it. Meanwhile the GOP has failed to hammer home the point to Bush that "staying the course" isn't working. They're just now starting to come around, but probably too little, too late to come up with an alternative plan for Iraq that is both workable and politically viable. Redesigning the Iraq gameplan with more troops makes the most sense but will be hard for most voters to swallow after the carnage we've already seen. If it happens at all, it won't come until after Election Day, when Bush no longer has to worry about losing GOP control in Congress. The trouble with the Democrats is that by and large, their base is still fixated on water under the bridge – how we got into the war in the first place – and that is likely coloring the Democrats’ arguments over how to get out of it.

Meanwhile the GOP has failed to hammer home the point to Bush that “staying the course” isn’t working. They’re just now starting to come around, but probably too little, too late to come up with an alternative plan for Iraq that is both workable and politically viable. Redesigning the Iraq gameplan with more troops makes the most sense but will be hard for most voters to swallow after the carnage we’ve already seen. If it happens at all, it won’t come until after Election Day, when Bush no longer has to worry about losing GOP control in Congress.

]]> By: Sean Aqui http://donklephant.com/2006/08/21/in-the-field-with-the-iraqi-army/comment-page-1/#comment-62973 Sean Aqui Mon, 21 Aug 2006 19:07:16 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/08/21/in-the-field-with-the-iraqi-army/#comment-62973 Good points, Jimmy. The bit about the Democrats is something of a caricature, but still. If some candidate promised more troops as part of a new strategy that fit both our interests and our capabilities, I'd support them on that basis. "Throw more troops at it" is not a winning position; "we need this many troops to achieve this result" is. But what we do need to acknowledge is that whatever the theoretical benefits of the Bush strategy, he has thoroughly screwed up the execution. And thus "stay the course" is a nonstarter. We need our leaders to take a clear-eyed look at the situation as it now stands and plot us a course through and out of it. Good points, Jimmy. The bit about the Democrats is something of a caricature, but still.

If some candidate promised more troops as part of a new strategy that fit both our interests and our capabilities, I’d support them on that basis. “Throw more troops at it” is not a winning position; “we need this many troops to achieve this result” is.

But what we do need to acknowledge is that whatever the theoretical benefits of the Bush strategy, he has thoroughly screwed up the execution. And thus “stay the course” is a nonstarter. We need our leaders to take a clear-eyed look at the situation as it now stands and plot us a course through and out of it.

]]> By: Jimmy the Dhimmi http://donklephant.com/2006/08/21/in-the-field-with-the-iraqi-army/comment-page-1/#comment-62964 Jimmy the Dhimmi Mon, 21 Aug 2006 18:29:50 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/08/21/in-the-field-with-the-iraqi-army/#comment-62964 Unfortunately, we seem to have 2 choices: (A)continue with "hanging on" or (B)"strategic redeployment"(i.e. total withdrawal). If some candidate, either Democrat or Republican, promised more troops to do this thing once and for all, do you think they would have a chance in hell of winning? My favorite criticism is when Democrats say, "You see, we need more troops! Therefore, I propose reducing the number of troops to zero!" Unfortunately, we seem to have 2 choices: (A)continue with “hanging on” or (B)”strategic redeployment”(i.e. total withdrawal).

If some candidate, either Democrat or Republican, promised more troops to do this thing once and for all, do you think they would have a chance in hell of winning?

My favorite criticism is when Democrats say, “You see, we need more troops! Therefore, I propose reducing the number of troops to zero!”

]]> By: Michael Reynolds http://donklephant.com/2006/08/21/in-the-field-with-the-iraqi-army/comment-page-1/#comment-62944 Michael Reynolds Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:46:49 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/08/21/in-the-field-with-the-iraqi-army/#comment-62944 It's clear that we have no strategy for winning in Iraq. We surrendered the strategic initiative and now we're hoping against hope that the Iraqis will rescue us. It’s clear that we have no strategy for winning in Iraq. We surrendered the strategic initiative and now we’re hoping against hope that the Iraqis will rescue us.

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