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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group

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To: Harvey Allen who wrote (128797)	4/9/2004 3:27:25 PM
From: Bilow	Read Replies (1) of 281500

Hi Harvey Allen; Re: "Mobilization is important. Not knowledgeable about Algeria but Vietnam had 20 years of mobilization against Japan and France before we stepped up to the plate." Compared to Vietnam or Iraq, Algeria was fairly peaceful for the 50 years before they threw the French out. Iraq has been mobilized for war for many decades. Almost everyone is trained to fight. The place is overrun with small arms. The primary religion holds martyrdom to be a great thing. They're cousins of the guys blowing themselves up in Israel. It's insane to think that they're going to be easier than Vietnam on the basis of "mobilization" comparisons. Re: "Friday prayers could give a clue about extent in Iraq." The occupation of Iraq will require many decades, if it is to succeed. Friday's prayers are just one rather unimportant day. Re: "Also, a lot has to do with quality of the forces on both sides. We are using our best and that affects the equation too." We used our best in Vietnam, as did France in Algeria. When we needed more and there were no more best to be had, we sent in our second best, and then later we lowered the bar and sent anyone who didn't possess enough self preservation instinct to eat peanut butter smeared on his butt. We're going through the same sequence in Iraq, though due to political concerns (rather than a lack of military need) a draft (other than of specialized draft like doctors and nurses) is still some time in the future. The political failure to bring back a draft is making the goal of pacifying Iraq slip faster from our hands. As you reference with mobilization, these things DO NOT become easier as time goes on. -- Carl P.S. For peanut butter stories, see: syklopps.com

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