A SOLDIER'S PERSPECTIVE
THE WEB'S LEADING MILITARY BLOG SINCE 2004
I printed this off back in March after it appeared in the Wall Street Journal – written by Kenneth A. Haapala. I meant to publish it then, but forgot. Today, I was cleaning off my desk and computer area and ran across it again. Now is as good a time as any to post it. You can purchase a copy of the full letter, but I wanted to focus on the last two paragraphs:
In 1972, when the U.S. was withdrawing ground troops, the South Vietnam army demonstrated its credibility. With the assistance of U.S. air power, it crushed a frontal invasion by the North. Afterward, the irresponsible Congresses of that time denied the South air support and, in 1975, the South was reprehensibly denied vital logistical support. Military strategists such as Sun Tzu have long realized that when the opposing army is suddenly cut off from its logistical base, the commander has a rare opportunity to destroy it by attacking with the greatest possible force. Tearing up the peace treaty it signed with great fanfare, the North attacked and, as predicted, the South fell.
The fall of South Vietnam wasn’t the result of a successful insurgency or a failure to build a credible army. it was a verification of human frailty described over 2,000 years ago and the consequence of irresponsible congressional action. As long as the military continues to adapt tactics to effectively fight the insurgency and as long as President Bush remains resolute, Iraq won’t become another Vietnam. No major capital-intensive forces threaten it. Once the needed military and police forces are built, Iraq has the economic resources to maintain them. The insurgency will die with a whimper.
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Donna
Patriot,
I sure hope that guy is right and the next president doesn’t abandon the Iraqis.
Hawk
The problem with this ananlysis is that this is not a typical insurgency. In an insurgency a revolutionary force is trying to overthrough the government. In Iraq most people are not loyal to the government first. They are loyal to there religious group first and the government second, if they are loyal to the government at all. This is the primary problem in forming an Iraqi army. We are trying to get people to fight for something they don’t necessarily care about all that much. Many would rather fight for their religion.
sue
Hawk,
What you have to understand is that we are dealing with a people who have lived under a brutal dictator for many years. If they were loyal to anything but him, not the government, but him, they would be beheaded, shot, tortured, or get to watch that happen to their family till they talked and then it would happen to them. A lot of the insurgents are coming from Iran, trying to stir up secular violence. But through it all, our guys have managed to get an Iraqi Army set up. An Iraqi police force set up. Do they have to be careful about who is in there and make sure at all times they are who they say they are? Of course, but they are on top of it and working on it. If the guys over there think that what they are doing is making a difference in the lives of the Iraqi people then why is it so hard for the average American to believe it too. Did you ever think about that?
It’s because of the agenda of the propagandist media. And each time an American waivers, it is a win for the insurgents.
Hawk
I understand who Saddam Hussein was. I also understand that Iran is not provoking secular violence, but religious fervor. I also understand that 60% of the Iraquis are Shiite (unlike the idiot Sylvester Reyes) and that this was very predictable. What I disagree with is the belief that if we just stay long enough and continue to do the same thing that we will be successful. Not withstanding the soldiers belief that they are helping the Iraqi people (people bailing water out of a sinking ship are also helpful, but the ship still sinks), the evidence is that Iraq is getting more violent. The Mahdi Army is currently a more effective fighting force than the Iraqi military and the police force is infiltrated by Sunni killing death squads. We must change our strategy.
I disagree with this article because I believe it shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the problem in Iraq. He is comparing this insurgency to past insurgencies and that is not a valid comparison. I don’t think by adapting tactics but keeping the same strategy that we can win.
sue
The problem with leaving now, is that we will have given the people freedom with out giving them enough time to get the tools to keep it. What you are failing to understand is that while there may be escalating violence in Baghdad and some other places, MANY other provinces are calm, and under Iraqi control. The insurgents are concentrating on Baghdad for a reason. And obviously it is working because you and many others like you are NOT looking at the big picture and only pointing to one thing and making your claims. This is being done for your benefit. As was all the violence leading up to our elections. It was done to influence our media and our elections. And by people like you buying into it, you are feeding the enemy exactly what they want. They WANTED the Democrats in office. They hate Bush more than the Democrats do. Because they know that Bush isn’t going to let go. He sees the big picture even if you can’t. But the Democrats are seen as week. A bunch of Wussies who will cut and run. See John Kerry, Jack Murtha, Harry Reed, Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi.
And why is it that the only valid comparisons to Viet Nam are the ones where we cut and run, and the quagmire nonsense. Our Soldiers and Marines are currently embedded with the Iraqi army. There are MITTs all over, and they are training these people to protect and defend the Constitution of the Sovereign Nation of Iraq. And that is something worth doing. But you and a lot of others are so unwilling to let our guys do their jobs, and just need to pull them out. Thanks to the Clintons, we have become such a gimme gimme, it’s all about me, I want it now Society. There is no longer patience in our Society. It is all about instant gratification and getting some for me. Well too bad. Some things take time and this is one of them. Failing is NOT an option for our guys and they will not accept that lying down. All they ask is a chance to do their job and do what is right. Why can’t you just see that?
Nephi
Sue,
I promise not to get carried away this close to Christmas – we’ve all got better things to do – I’m sure, but one thing you said really caught my eye:
“Thanks to the Clintons, we have become such a gimme gimme, it’s all about me, I want it now Society.”
I am really struggling with this! Of all the things that one might blame on the Clintons, where did this bombshell come from?
PS Have a great holiday!
sue
Nephi,
Wishing you and yours Peace and Joy and the very best holiday. I won’t touch that one for now. How bout we put it on the shelf for Christmas and dust it off later!!
Have fun!
Hawk
President Bush understand the Big Picture? I’m shocked. This is a man who fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs for telling him that it would take 450,000 troops to secure Iraq. This is a man who thought we would be greeted as liberators in Iraq. This is a man whose SECDEF threatened to fire any general who even suggested planning for an occupation. This is a man who said the oil revenues would pay for Iraq. This is a man who hired a recent college graduate who had never worked on any stock exchange, to build the Iraqi stock exchange, but she did work on his campaign. If he sees the Big Picture that is all he sees, because he could not care less about the details.
I have never said we should immediately withdraw from Iraq. But if we are to be successful in Iraq we need a new comprehensive strategy. We must engage the Shiite religious leaders to help control the Shiites, even in Iran. We must engage the Sunni religious leaders to help control the Sunnis, even in Syria. We cannot succeed by ourselves or just western allies. We must ensure that the contractors we hire to rebuild Iraq are doing their job and not corrupt, instead of building police headquarters where sewage literally comes out of the light fixtures (true story). What to do with the military is a more difficult issue because the option of adding forces for any sustainable time is not available, according to General Abuzaid. But I have no faith that this administration will change any strategy, so we will wait until January 2009. The sad part is that with initial proper planning we would not be where we are now. We may not even be in Iraq.
As for your comment on Clinton. Do you remember the 80s. “I am a material girl, living in a material world.” Clinton may be guilty of many things, but being responsible for the gimmee culture of the US is not one of them.
Nephi
Sue,
On the shelf. For now … !!
Peace be with you, and may 2007 rock in your favor.
N.