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

To: KyrosL who wrote (113722)	9/3/2003 4:37:02 PM
From: Neocon	Respond to of 281500

Interesting speculations. I would not, though, characterize the Administration as frantic; it was always the goal to turn as much security over to the Iraqis themselves as possible; and the Administration continues to resist formulae that would cede effective control over the operation. As for the fatalities, I assumed growth, for the sake of argument, but I believe, in fact, that there will be a decrease in the next 6 months, precisely because of the success of operations rounding up men and materiel from the hold- outs, and because the populace generally hates the influx of foreign terrorists, and will turn them in, rather providing safe haven. It is pretty easy for an Iraqi to spot a Saudi or other national, because of differences in dialect and culture......

To: KyrosL who wrote (113722)	9/3/2003 8:56:19 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Respond to of 281500

Your calculation is highly theoretical. The current fatality rate in Iraq is politically unsustainable, because it will kill the volunteer army. Excuse me? Then doesn't this beg the question of whether an all volunteer army is as desirable as most folks believe that is? After all, if the United States will be limited in protecting itself and destroying its enemies because we're afraid of losing more lives? Think about it.. The US lost approx 2,000 military personnel during the attack on Pearl Harbor. But WWII cost the lives of over 300,000 MORE American servicemen... Now ask yourself if we could have fought that war with an all volunteer army... Of course, I'm a big biased here... I believe that all Americans, upon reaching 18 years of age, should be obligated to perform two years of national service (military, civil works, medical.. etc).. In exchange, rather than salaries and bonuses, they would receive attractive benefits for post-service education/training.. The high salaries could then be redirected to retaining a highly trained and qualified officer and NCO cadre. Hawk