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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: carranza2 who wrote (87217)	3/28/2003 9:40:14 AM
From: michael97123	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Idea. What about taking basrah before going to bagdad? The basrah horror show once fully disclosed, should be just the PR we need. And its taking may also weaken the will of those who are to defend baghdad. Of course there would be no let up on the bombing of republican guard positions in baghdad while this was going on. Your thoughts? mike

To: carranza2 who wrote (87217)	3/28/2003 6:47:04 PM
From: Steeny	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 281500

"The PR mistake was in creating the impression that Saddam's regime would crumble" It was not just a PR mistake. Rumsfeld HOPED Iraqis would rise up. He ignored any evidence which countered his optimistic scenario. Rumsfeld really believed the crap he was shoveling. He has ZERO combat experience & yet decided that he was smarter than every combat vet General who advised him to go in heavy & wait for the 4th infantry. Rummy was brilliant in Afghanistan & he let it go to his head. His hubris will cost US & British lives.

To: carranza2 who wrote (87217)	3/29/2003 8:28:36 AM
From: Rock_nj	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

The PR mistake was in creating the impression that Saddam's regime would crumble. While he may be an evil toad, Saddam is not a fool. He could not have possibly ruled Iraq for 30 years without creating substantial support from a large part of the population through lots of material incentives. I doubt that he is universally hated, as the PR would have us believe. There is clearly a significant segment of the population that has done well by Saddam, and they'll support him because they know there will be retribution against them when the fight is over. That's a good point that most people in the west completely ignore or are unaware about. There are many people who have lived the good life under Saddam and have a vested interest in seeing his regime continue. Add to that the powerful force of patriotism and not wanting to be occupied by a foreign power and you have a stiff resistence to an American military takeover. As much as a segment of the population might hate Saddam, patriotism might compel them to rally in defence of their nation. What if America was attacked? As much as I might dislike the current American leadership and some of our policies, I would certainly fight (as would tens of millions of other Americans from differing political beliefs) to defend our country to the bitter end. I'm sure the same feelings are going through Patriotic Iraqis.