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Uninhabited zones?

Reader comment on item: President Bush Replies to My Iraq Critique

Submitted by bdoran (Germany), Nov 24, 2006 at 11:42

My dear Sir,

from the ground here let me tell you we have been essentially trying to do that since the purple fingers election by pulling into the "mega-fobs" (the FOBs are forward operating bases, essentially it means pulling back within our own perimeter). This consolidated our holdings here from the many smaller bases, supposedly for a smaller "footprint" but it cut us off from the population-and the population is the objective in counter-insurgency.

The Iraqis were supposed to assume a greater role...but instead it pulled the rug out from under the fledgling government and handed control of the civilian population to a no-doubt stunned with relief insurgency. This snatched military defeat from the jaws of political victory, and saved the insurgency. It's such a basic violation of the most important part of counter-insurgency-control of the civilian population-that we should be considering court-martial for those involved in the decision.

Note: the Iraqi security forces will as small units stand, but only if there is a constant American presence. Otherwise it collapses...as it has in nearly every case where the insurgents (or militias if you prefer) have contested their control after handover. Balad is a prime example..it was relatively quiet. In the month after the handover IED's tripled and then there was the Friday October 13th massacre weekend one month after the handover to Iraqi's. Calm was restored by the Americans resuming joint, heavy patrolling. The local population responds to the security we offer, which means we can still pull the fat from the fire with resolve. You are actually suggesting we basically take the final, fatal step, which would in the end reduce America to the position of 7th century Byzantium (alone, poorer for losing exactly this region to the same enemy, surrounded by enemies).

Finally, let me remedy a common error concerning the Iraqi government and the ISF (Iraqi Security Forces) taking control: There is no Iraqi government south of Kurdistan other than the village and the tribe (well, the insurgents) unless you define government exclusively as they who divide up the swag. As for the ISF....are you kidding? At this point if they show up for work except to defend their own village/tribe they should be automatically suspect. Really. No one in Iraq can stand alone, if we aren't going to be the "Big Friend" they can rely on, they'll do what it takes to live.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (23) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
West can defeat radical Islam [219 words]C SmithDec 31, 2006 23:3171281
At the command of Saudia [117 words]Yuval Brandstetter MDDec 23, 2006 14:3370343
The Bush Response [188 words]Mitzi AlvinNov 24, 2006 15:2567197
Iraq [311 words]clarence puckettDec 18, 2006 23:5367197
stay from view [101 words]John ManittaNov 24, 2006 12:3967187
Uninhabited zones? [398 words]bdoranNov 24, 2006 11:4267175
No Islamists in the PA before Bush? Ha. [127 words]David P.Nov 1, 2006 09:4764985
An immodest proposal [66 words]Peter HerzOct 30, 2006 18:2664827
more right [172 words]dfwhiteNov 9, 2006 17:4764827
Bush Is Right [499 words]John ROct 29, 2006 19:1364765
Baathists - strategic partners [115 words]VijayOct 28, 2006 13:1464682
Vijay is absolutely correct [139 words]garyOct 28, 2006 16:3364682
Not necessarily Vijay [289 words]BobNov 2, 2006 09:0964682
Rationale for continuing Iraq war [164 words]VijayOct 27, 2006 09:1664610
Not a great idea [275 words]garyOct 26, 2006 22:1564587
The writing is on the wall! [318 words]nick4693Nov 11, 2006 19:3264587
Bush is on the right track [68 words]Rick HouseOct 26, 2006 20:2964578
Base of Operations? [136 words]Kevin MOct 26, 2006 15:3164560
But what would terrorists do if they had oil money? [52 words]J. SummersOct 26, 2006 11:5664548
It's the oil...! [103 words]S JainOct 26, 2006 11:5164547
oil Schmoil [35 words]PatrickOct 31, 2006 15:4364547
Horse feathers! [139 words]BillDec 27, 2006 00:4564547
You are wrong Bill [151 words]Gary AndersonMar 11, 2007 23:3464547

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