The casualties continue
#5

As one who has been in Iraq, I can say that we did a good job, but the deck was stacked against us and the US mission. History would seem to indicate that the most stable for of government in that region is a strong-man kind of dictator. Corruption and tribal unit (above a national identity) is so ingrained in the people of that region that our system of government (with a strong reliance on dollars being spent to sustain it) is not going to work out very well. Take a look at the Iraqi military. When it was at its high point, under Saddam, it didn't fare well when the C2 nodes were destroyed and soldiers who hadn't been taught to think for themselves had to think for themselves. At that point the only thought is "Screw this!!" Now, that aren't trained at all (it seems) and it looks as though the officer corps is a no-work status job for cronies. One thing that was reported was all of the money paid to soldiers that didn't exist. I bet all of those phantom soldiers would have helped when ISIS came rolling over the border. This "new birth of freedom" in the Middle East has not helped the Christians in the area - those that are left.

All that being said, my personal, unconnected with any particular military organization opinion on this is that we take off from there and leave a note on the table:

 

"I'm afraid it is time for us to move on. I'd say it's been fun but it hasn't. Screw up again and we'll come back and kick over your anthills again - and then promptly leave to give you something to think about.

Sincerely, the US military"

Maj Todd O. USMC, Retired
Grandson of LTC John O'Brien
Reply


Messages In This Thread
The casualties continue - by CaptO - 12-15-2014, 08:39 PM
The casualties continue - by Walt's Daughter - 12-15-2014, 11:14 PM
The casualties continue - by colinhotham - 12-16-2014, 12:16 PM
The casualties continue - by parker - 12-16-2014, 07:46 PM
The casualties continue - by CaptO - 12-16-2014, 09:04 PM



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)