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A tougher policy in Iraq
American commanders in Iraq have adopted a more aggressive approach following VFR’s criticism of their passive policy. On November 7, I wrote: “Why aren’t we the ones going after the enemy, instead of letting them shoot our guys? What the heck is going on here—other than ‘stay the course’?” The November 12 Los Angeles Times reports on America’s new way of dealing with attacks on our forces: bombing the insurgents’ homes.
“The message is this: If you shoot at an American or a coalition force member, you are going to be killed or you are going to be captured, and if we trace somebody back to a specific safe house, we are going to destroy that facility,” said Maj. Lou Zeisman, a paratroop officer of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division deployed here from Fayetteville, N.C. “We are not going to take these continuous attacks.”Too bad it took the deaths of so many GI’s to wake up our political and military leaders. Posted by Lawrence Auster at November 12, 2003 11:18 AM | Send Comments
Unfortunately, this policy may not succeed any more than the former one did, and may worsen things: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=564&u=/nm/iraq_usa_insurgents_dc&ncid= Posted by: Bubba on November 12, 2003 1:42 PMThe article Bubba links to is probably true on one point — that the more insurgents score notch points against coalition forces, the more the Mohammedan anti-Western instincts are aroused in support of the insurgents. The argument made against a harsher strategy however draws the wrong conclusion. An overwhelming and resolute move to crush these fanatics would _lessen_ their support. Overwhelming might and force is the only language in that region that is clearly understood and respected. Posted by: Joel LeFevre on November 12, 2003 2:15 PM“Overwhelming might and force is the only language in that region that is clearly understood and respected.” So, after starting out with the belief that all peoples and especially Mohammedans are equally ready for “freedom and democracy,” Bush ends up having to impose on those same Mohammedans the despotism of force. Will he learn any lessons from this? Posted by: Lawrence Auster on November 12, 2003 2:25 PMThe horrible car bombing today at an Italian base in Iraq killing 25 people shows the dilemma we’re in. As long as the insurgents can mount such attacks, no Iraqi self-government will be possible. Bush’s policy, if it is to have any chance of success, would seem to require a much more pro-active and aggressive approach than he has contemplated so far. But what would that entail? And would it be feasible? This is what must be discussed. Posted by: Lawrence Auster on November 12, 2003 3:02 PMAnd just to give an idea of the mentality that we are up against, in Saudi Arabia it was discovered that terrorists have actually booby-trapped copies of the Koran to maim and kill pilgrims to Mecca! This is according to a Saudi paper: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35558 If this report is correct, it shows that nothing is sacred to these psychos — not even their own scriptures. Posted by: Joel LeFevre on November 12, 2003 5:34 PM |