You said we have overwhelming force in Iraq. Apparently you also mean that overwhelming force can also mean less than the appropriate number of troops. Wow.
Here's what I think.
1. We had adequate numbers of troops for the initial invasion and quick assault on Baghdad. However it was shown, and warned of by military generals, that the supply line between Kuwait and Baghdad would become stretched and become unprotected. Many of the early casualties occurred along the supply line, as the bulk of the fighting force raced past to Baghdad. That left the supply line vulnerable to attack...and it was attacked many times.
2. After the defeat and dispersal of the Iraqi Army, guerilla war tactics began. There was not adequate forces on the ground to combat these guerilla tactics, and looting and crime. This was pre warned about as well.
3. The many arms supply dumps around Iraq were left unsecured, allowing insurgents to drive up load ordinance and then use it to make IED's which took a heavy toll on the many unarmored convoys.
4. Secure the borders. The borders were left unchecked...and still are to this day...allowing additional terrorists into the country.
It's clear that we didn't have the number of forces to adequately secure the country, and the lack of force caused an increase in casualties. General Powell's force of 430,000 combined with the forces of another 30 or 40 countries was an overwhelming force. Included in the mission was the ability to secure the country, if asked to do so. Ultimately forces were withdrawn and that was not part of the action, but they were prepared to do it if the president ordered it.
In the second Gulf War, part of the mission was to secure the country...but they didn't have adequate forces to secure the cities, secure the supply lines, secure the borders, secure the weapons dumps or to fight a guerilla war with an underground insurgency.
In short, we were undermanned. The Military men in the main argued for a larger force, while the civilian leadership argued for smaller force. Bush backed Rumsfeld on this. In hindsight we can see that more troop strength was needed in order to secure Iraq.
Currently the country is still unsecured, and the insurgency is still fighting a very effective guerilla war.
Among those asking for a larger troop strength were: Shinseky, Zinni, Powell, Bremmer, Senator McCain, Senator Kerry and many others in the military and retired from the military. The pressure for a smaller force came from the civilian leadership...not from the military leadership.
Orca |
