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

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (159502)	3/23/2005 2:14:00 PM
From: TimF	Respond to of 281500

I don't think the insurgency was preventable. It might have been nice to have more soldiers to deal with it when it did happen, esp. more soldiers with specific abilities (like the MPs you mentioned), but it would not have been a panacea. "the enemy gets a vote" Very true. Tim

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (159502)	3/23/2005 2:21:26 PM
From: Orcastraiter	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

A larger force would have included more MP's and peace keepers. Especially if there were a large contingent of NATO and UN forces available. But the biggest error made which swelled the ranks of the insurgency was disbanding the Iraqi army. They should have been retained and paid a good salary. They could have been the back bone of reconstruction efforts and stabilizing the country. Incidentally the notion of keeping the Iraqi Army was put forward by several Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Bush said no. Imagine if we had the larger force in Iraq. Then we could have retained and processed the Iraqi Army into the new Iraqi Army. It would have taken more personnel up front to do this...but it would have been worth it. And in the long run would have saved lives and money. And a little more patience would have found Arab nations joining the coalition, and wider participation from the UN...and the US would be enjoying world popularity on the moral high ground. Instead...we are goats. Orca