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Originally Posted by BaronVonUlm
Frankly, the United States should have killed a lot more people in 2003-2004 than we did. Real "Shock and Awe." That is hindsight. Can not go back and do it now. So, we continue to fight and we could still pull out a win here.
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Kill who? Non-combatants?
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Originally Posted by BaronVonUlm
In the Phillipine War of 1899-1905, the United States finally did pull out a win under similar circumstances. But, we did get rather ruthless to do it. We need that here with the surge.
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Actually, our COIN efforts were really good in the PI, with "benevolent assimilation" providing a solid population centric strategic around which operations centered. While ruthless tactics did exist and were sometimes productive, they also severely harmed the war effort on the domestic front, although not quick enough to result in a withdrawal. Democracies aren't too happy when their forces torture the enemy.
Also, curious on how you date it from 1899-1905, given that TR declared victory on the Fourth of July in 1902 and "brought the boys home" except for the colonial garrisoning forces?
Lastly, given the successes of units under the command of COL McFarland, LTC Alford, and others in Anbar over the past two years such that Anbar had a day last week without a single attack, it is quite clear that it's not ruthlessness that is needed, but rather, the ability to work within the culture and environment that we find ourselves deployed in.