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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (273246)	10/9/2008 1:39:58 AM
From: average joe	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 793987

"Inquire if Al Qaeda is popular with the Iraqis" No war is about wining a popularity contest. It might have more to do with the 100 billion proven bbls of oil in the ground and tens of millions of dollars worth of oil exports a day. The only "strong horse" is a free and happy well fed horse.

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (273246)	10/9/2008 7:55:56 AM
From: Tom Clarke	3 Recommendations Respond to of 793987

In Iraq, we are the strongest tribe. >>From a tactician's point of view (and an expert in COIN), Bing West gives you the perspective to see what went wrong and what went right. [Edit Note: This is the first book that I've read that also correctly describes John McCain's fight against Secretary Rumsfeld, Congress and the administration to see a Surge strategy put into place.] There is much talk of tribes in the book. You can't discuss Iraq and not talk about the tribal system. In the end, the strongest tribe wins. The strongest tribe is the one that is the most flexible and willing to do whatever it takes to win and gather the other tribes to it's fold. It turns out that the American military is the strongest tribe. Interspersed amongst the stories of the CPA, the State Department, the CIA and the Bush Administration, Bing West shows that our military men and women were making amazing sacrifices and valiant efforts that made success possible. That's the first half of the book. And, the second half, from our lessons learned, our generals AND our corporals and sergeants developed an effective strategy and are winning the day - despite a uninformed and uninvolved public. West ends the book where we are now - on the edge of victory, and he includes a series of myths or OIF urban legends that are a must read. amazon.com