A Land Far Away

http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2007/0 ... gen-gangs/

Very, very interesting piece. I'd recommend browsing the site at leisure (note for Helios/Dan/Cipher; it is a predominantly conservative site, as its goal is to aid the succesful prosecution of 'small wars'), as there's a great deal of worthwhile analysis to be found.

Also http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/research/th ... sler05.pdf

mxlm wrote:http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2007/0 ... gen-gangs/

Very, very interesting piece. I'd recommend browsing the site at leisure (note for Helios/Dan/Cipher; it is a predominantly conservative site, as its goal is to aid the succesful prosecution of 'small wars'), as there's a great deal of worthwhile analysis to be found.

Also http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/research/th ... sler05.pdf

What's the matter with you? Don't abandon one cruddy topic for another one! Republican jerkface.

What? This was already here. What's the matter with YOU? Don't pick a fight and then run away. That's what insurgents do, not what men do. Fuggin' Irhabi.

Nice try republican! I'm on to your scheme! I'll have you know that most insurgents are men too!

Good finds.

http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2007/0 ... -april-20/

I think I may be coming around to the view that it's worthwhile to let the 'surge' run its course. So long as there's not a disastrous change in leadership in Iraq, at any rate.

mxlm wrote:http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2007/0 ... -april-20/

I think I may be coming around to the view that it's worthwhile to let the 'surge' run its course. So long as there's not a disastrous change in leadership in Iraq, at any rate.

Meh, the surge is too small to make a real difference. You honestly need a half a million boots on a ground - and that means a really nasty word we don't want to hear: conscription.

I'd be in favor of a draft if I thought for a second that the top officials in the civilian and military areas were even marginally competent. The majority of whom aren't.

Great article (and reporting). Anyone catch this one on yahoo? It relates to the results of the surge as well:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070503/ap_ ... adow_state

NESchampion wrote:I'd be in favor of a draft if I thought for a second that the top officials in the civilian and military areas were even marginally competent. The majority of whom aren't.

I have this thought as well. There is a part of me that just wants to throw everything we have at Iraq and try to fix it. Then I look at the monkeys that got us here and realize they'd screw up no matter how many resources they had. It isn't that the Iraq nation building excercise was an impossibility, it was just impossible for our incompetent and corrupt leaders and their corporate cronies, and now it's so messed up it *is* an impossibility. Iraq is a failed state, and the Iraqis who remain will suffer for generations.