Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray
Herodotus,
Contrary to what some people feel that I am not with the US, I would like to clarify for all that I have a very balanced view of the events. It is only the dimwits and halfwits who have nothing to offer than blind jingoism who are partisans who land up in horse manure!
Kagan maybe partisan and I assure you that by posting it, it does not reflect my endorsement of his views, but his views are worth note from an academic viewpoint. True that he may paint a rosy picture pursue his agenda, but in those pink clouds, one must search for the 'nuggets' and then form his own opinion. That is what I do.
That is why I posted it so that out of all the partisan reporting, the nuggets are gleaned!
I also want Iraq to succeed inspite of the bumbling and at time idiotic avenues being pursued.
There has been enough of highstanding and rhetoric and hate.
It is time to bring the the world at peace with itself!
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Fair enough. I can appreciate good academic debate. But some parts of his article should be placed in the proper context. He states that US operations have netted some 700 members of Sadr's milita since the operations began two months ago. He points to this fact as proof that the surge is working and the US is turning the tables on the Sadrists. Take the number at face-value (though I have heard numbers much lower) and say he is correct. 700 is not a significant number since the Mahdi Army has been estimated of having upwards of 60,000 members.
Secondly he talks about the recent violence in Tal Afar, and states that even though Shiites and local police carried out reprisal attacks, it's okay because the violence didn't spiral out of control and the Iraqi Army came and resotred order. But there was probably never any danger of the violence spiraling out of control...most of the violence in Iraq is tit for tat, and maybe a little more. You killed my brother, so I will kill your cousin, etc. The reprisals were done long before the Iraqi Army came to Tal Afar, most likely, and thus the Army had little to do with actually re-storing order.
Finally he also mentions that the terrorists are changing tactics, but this is natural in any kind of war. The enemy adapts and so on and so it isn't anything to worry about if for the twelve thousandth time the terrorists change their tactics and adapt. But at some point something has to give, and that is the point of the surge. To date US forces in Iraq have had over 500 offensive operations, and every single time, the terrorists adapt and change their strategy and tactics. I would like to see the column that states hey the terrorists didn't or couldn't adapt since that would mean we are getting closer to victory.
Fredrick Kagan is no doubt a smart man, a brilliant academic mind, but he seems to be more in the role of a cheerleader for his plan instead of participating in honest debate about the outcomes of it. A good strategist will always want to tweak his plan, and it remains to be seen if Kagan sees any faults with his master plan.
Fighting to Win
Maybe it will work, hopefully it will.