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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated
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To: LindyBill who wrote (3470)7/18/2003 5:49:04 AM
From: unclewest  Read Replies (3) of 793537
 
The problem with Vietnam was not so much civilian interference as bad policy and strategy all around.

Hogwash,
The problem in Vietnam was exactly that.
Battle strategy...indeed battle tactics, rules of engagement, and maneuvers were directed and controlled by civilians. And those civilians were never willing to pound our opponent into submission...a la WWII.

We have a similar problem in Iraq today. Today few American civilians have a taste for what it takes to force total subjugation. Civilians tried to terminate the war before we won. There was no defeat and no surrender, not even a ceasefire. Therefore hostilities continue.

War is nasty business. To win requires beating an opponent to death or into total submission. We had them on an open battlefield, refused to defeat them, and let them retreat to the cities. Enemy POWs were immediately released to return to the battlefield. Their leadership remained intact enough to continue to function. Now our civilians once again are determining our tactics and rules of engagement. Their mantra is, "Now, now boys don't hurt anyone...and please no shooting in town."

The problem in Iraq is not that there might be some collateral damage...The problem in Iraq is there has not been enough collateral damage to take the fight out of the population.

I believe Tommy Franks probably retired over this.
unclewest
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