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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated
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To: LindyBill who wrote (7144)9/8/2003 6:46:47 AM
From: unclewest  Read Replies (1) of 793776
 
I will believe Max Boot anytime.

His perspective in this article failed to account for a few differences in the areas of operations. He also failed to account for many units. The picture he paints is quite incomplete. He is kind to the USMC and they deserve that.

When Army supply convoys get attacked by fedayeen, they speed away, I was told. When Marine convoys got hit, they were supposed to stop immediately and disgorge infantrymen to pursue the attackers.

I notice you highlighted that paragraph. I have zero argument with that. I have written that the response to every ambush should be a counter-attack. I do not believe every Army convoy or even most sped away. That is generally contrary to our counter-ambush doctrine. Yet there are times when the vehicles are supposed to speed away, for example, when laden with ammunition, artillery rounds or explosives.

And there is a difference in the units Boot mentions...A USMC Infantry combat unit on the move is not the same as a US Army Truck company carrying supplies to the front.

He makes some other apple to orange comparisons...

You have the 101 in the North with the Kurds who hated Saddam. The area is very rural.
Saying the 101 alone controls the North fails to account for the 173rd Airborne Brigade, A USMC Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the 40 USSF "A" Teams from the 10th Special Forces Group that have conducted extensive combat OPS in the most difficult Northern areas.

You have the Marines in the South with the Sunnis who also hated Saddam. Saying that 8,000 US Marines control the entire Southern area fails to account for our British allies who have also been conducting combat OPS in Southern Iraq with the British 7th Armored Brigade, Royal Marine Commando Brigade, and 16th Air Assault Brigade and another 20 "A" Teams.

Then you have the 4th ID in and N of the heavily populated areas of Baghdad to Tikrit with the Baathists who love Saddam and (who knows how many?) foreign terrorists. Slightly different environment than that of the Marines and 101st.

Boot also fails to account for the 1st Armored Division and the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, two very substantial US Army units. He also never mentioned the 5 or 6 National Guard Brigades and numerous smaller Guard units in the AO working alongside the 101 and USMC.
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