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

To: Sam who wrote (244448)	10/9/2007 2:25:11 PM
From: cnyndwllr	Respond to of 281500

"It is greatly to the credit of the Marines in Anbar province that they have learned that inaction is a form of action. Making that realization part of our doctrine for 4GW could in turn represent a real step forward. Yes, that's a preferred strategy for the entire middle east. Do no harm. They will go where they will go on whatever time line it takes. They don't want, or need, and they won't accept, our imperial shepherding. Ed

To: Sam who wrote (244448)	10/9/2007 3:49:40 PM
From: Nadine Carroll	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

It is reasonably clear that, contrary to the White House's claims, the "surge" had little or nothing to do with the improved situation in Anbar province in Iraq. That security there has improved is a fact; a Marine friend who just returned told me the whole province is now quiet.... As is widely known, the key to turning the situation in Anbar around was a decision by the local Sunni clans and tribes to turn against al-Qaida. We did not make that happen, although we did make it possible, not by what we did but what we stopped doing, i.e., brutalizing the local population. Once U.S. forces in Anbar adopted a policy of de-escalation, the sheiks had the option of putting al-Qaida instead of us at the top of their enemies list. De-escalation was, to use a favorite military term, the enabler. The surge was a lot more than inaction. It was a new strategy that put Americans onto foot patrols, off their big bases, mixing with the Iraqi population, and in greater numbers. The Anbar Awakening is the fruit of several years of patient diplomacy with the Sunni shiekhs. It is a very active policy. The idea that inaction is the way to go because American troops can do nothing but "brutalize" is wrong headed in the extreme. One of the reports that keep coming back from Iraq is that Iraqis who have been fed a pack of lies about Americans, need to see Americans in action personally. When they see Al Qaeda deliberately kill childen and American Marines rush wounded children to hospital, they change their minds about Americans.