| A Little Rant about War and Public Opinion |
I think I’ll code a program that will produce random titles for my posts. I never know what to write there. Ho well.
Salam is alright, so far. Still, the real battle of Baghdad is still ahead. Turns out Blogspot have created a mirror for people with DNS probs (like I had). However, I’ve decided, for safety reasons, to keep an updated mirror of salam’s blog. Just incase. I’ll be happy to remove it once the war is over and Salam’s safe.
Seems Russia sold Illegal weapons to Saddam just before the war. Hmm… I wonder what will they discover about the French?
Also had the pleasure of meeting Renata yesterday! Finally, after almost 2 years since we first started to talk on ICQ, and 8 months after she made Aliyaa and immigrated to Israel. I visited her in her house, which is absolutely beautiful, having each room in different color. We had fun talking up until 1am, with her flatmates running around - they seems to have LOTS of fun there. I’m sure I’ll be visiting her again soon.
People in Israel are getting a little fed up with all the war mumbo jumbo. Most of my friends just watch the main news edition at the evening and try to avoid hearing news the rest of the day.
And those Americans (and Europeans) are starting to look quite childish for the past 2 days or so. Like, what were you thinking a war is? I’m personally impressed that with so many soldiers and units running around, the coalition only got several dead and few POWs! Of course every person is a whole world, and I’m not underestimating anyone, but jeez, people, it’s a WAR. Have you guys been living too many Hollywood films? Or were you just living on the moon the past 100 years or so?
It’s WAR, and war is ugly. It get people dead. It get people injured. If you’re successful, you kill more enemy soldiers then you get yours killed. THAT’S WAR. And considering what regular wars are, the US is (so far) running a really clean one. The Coalition forces are making such efforts to reduce casualties on both sides that they are making actions that would make any regular army quite puzzled. It’s only cause they have such a huge force they are doing things like waiting outside cities for the Iraqi army to come to them instead of getting in there and kicking it’s ass.
And so far it works quite well! Sure, there is going to be resistance in the cities. What would you think, the Iraqi soldiers will just go outside to be defeated just like that? The ones that want to fight will use the advantage they have with the local population - they’ll switch to civilian cloths, mingle, and only after the coalition forces will be inside - they’ll carry garilla-style attacks. The US army is right in trying to minimize civilian casualties, but that’s also what makes it slow. Since the militants care less about the civilians, they will have no problem in using them as a cover. You don’t even have to be smart or experienced to think about that, you just need to have less care for the civilians. And that’s not too hard for Saddam’s forces…
I think I haven’t said that explicitly yet - I’m pro-war. Saddam is a very dangerous ruler with lots of force and lots of money. I live in the middle east and the things he had done and still does are part of my daily life. No, I don’t think he’s a major threat now - and exactly for that reason it is the best time to finish him off. Weak as he may be, look how hard it is to take him down. Think about what would have happen if he was much stronger! Terror attacks in the US and Europe would have been a daily matter, just like they are in Israel (specially with the inexperienced security forces there). Missiles would have been launched on most Middle East countries (Saudia, Qatar, Jordan, not to mention Israel, with Kuwait being conquered on the first few hours) - this man is a serious threat to the region! Taking him out now is a MUST. Any other time would cost many many many more lives then this present war. Keep that in mind.
About Democratic Iraq? hehehe… I wouldn’t get my expectations too high. If Iraq is to be left in it’s current shape (as constructed by the British, btw, Iraq borders were set artificially by Britain and France) - will never be democratic. In best case scenario, it will be come Egypt-style, which is very unlikely.
Can you name 1 democratic Arab country? None.
It’s just a cultural thing. It isn’t good nor bad, it’s just a cultural thing. If you’ll leave Iraq at current borders you’ll have Shi’a Arabs the majority. You know how a Shi’a Arabs country looks like? Iran. The Kurds? Well, giving the Kurds in north Iraq an official country will cause the Kurds in Turkey and in Syria to revolt, demanding that the parts of Turkey/Syria where they live will be free to join the new Kurdish state, therefore throwing both Turkey and Syria into a war against losing parts of their land. This will make the other middle eastern countries have to choose sides - it’s not Europe here, it’s a totally different mentality. You’re either helping one side or the other. So, if not the Shi’a (which are 60% of today’s Iraq) and not the Kurds, who will you give the government to? How about the one sector which is not so religious? more open to the world? The Sunnis?
Hmm.. Wait a minute, isn’t Saddam a Sunni?? 
A complicated Middle East, eh?
Well, you can surly blame EUROPE for the mess here, with the British and French dividing the countries here (and in Africa, that land full of peace!) without even caring which tribes lives where and who hates who. I mean, who cared?! None of those ‘natives’ would have any ruling power ever, right?
Well, I guess it’s time the nations here will start fixing some borders. Unless there will be some balanced, controlled, border shaping here the whole area will still be unstable and diverse countries like Iraq will HAVE to have some kind of monarchy. Actually, I think that’s also true about Africa, but that’s way out of my league…
Now here, I don’t say all borders should be thrown. Not at all, that’s just another word for chaos. But in order to make stability in the region, which will - in turn - allow democratic regimes to flourish (even independently) - some ethnic groups must be given some sort of independence.
Look at Europe. In such a small area, you have so many countries! And doesn’t any of them have straight borders that just obviously been done with a ruler on a map? No, most of then have borders that relay much more on natural borders - rivers, mountains, etc. Ok, now take a look at the countries of the middle east. And Africa.
So much out of balance and many wars just cause EUROPEANS “knew better then the natives”.
BTW, please notice the British, which does bare responsibility for may of these, are active in helping and correcting things. Maybe the most of all the Europeans old ’superpowers’. Now look at the French. Not only that they do not lift a finger to help anyone, they are still behaving like old colonies are still theirs! (Ivory Coast anyone?)
All in all, I think this war is in the right time against the right people, and I also believe it’s a great opportunity to bring MUCH more stability to the region and possibly reduce future collisions. All this can really help in allowing real Democracy to flourish in Arab countries.
23 Comments so far
Leave a reply
And those Americans (and Europeans) are starting to look quite childish for the past 2 days or so. Like, what were you thinking a war is? I’m personally impressed that with so many soldiers and units running around, the coalition only got several dead and few POWs! Of course every person is a whole world, and I’m not underestimating anyone, but jeez, people, it’s a WAR. Have you guys been living too many Hollywood films? Or were you just living on the moon the past 100 years or so?
Uhhh kinda……. I have been living in the USA and before 9/11 we all kind of just lived in a hollywood movie. You have lived with the threat of violence etc. We have never had to deal with this so a lot of this is new to a lot of folks. War is hell!!! It is just a lot of people are in shock. This is the first time for them to see how the rest of the world lives..
March 24, 2003, 0800hrs MSK (GMT +3), Moscow - As of morning (MSK, GMT +3) March 24 the situation in Iraq can be characterized as quiet on all fronts. Attacking coalition forces have settled into positional warfare, they are exhausted, lost the attacking momentum and are in urgent need for fuel, ammunition, repairs and reinforcements. The Iraqis are also busy regrouping their forces, reinforcing the combat units and setting up new defense lines.
Exceptionally heavy fighting continued for two days and nights near An-Nasiriya. Both warring sides employed large numbers of tanks and artillery. More than 20,000 troops of the US 3rd Motorized Infantry Division, supported by 200 tanks, 600 other armored vehicles and 150 artillery pieces, were opposed by the Iraqi 3rd Army Corps consisting of up to 40,000 troops, up to 250 tanks, more than 100 artillery, up to 100 mortars and 1000 rocket propelled grenade launchers (RPG) and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM). The two-day battle ended without any significant results.
The Americans have failed in trying to use their momentum in capturing An-Nasiriya and attempted to encircle the town from the west, where they encountered strong layered Iraqi defenses and forced to withdraw. The Iraqi forces used this opportunity to attack the US flanks with two brigades, breaking the US combat orders and causing panic among the US troops. The US command was forced to halt the advance of its forced toward An Najaf and once again redirect several tank battalions to support the attacked units. Nearly 6 hours was needed for the US aviation to stop the Iraqi attack and restore combat order of the US forces.
During the past day the coalition aviation flew more than 2,000 close support missions in this area [An-Nasiriya]. "We can only thank God for having air dominance! said the commander of the US 15th Marines Exp. Corps Col. Thomas Waldhauser in a private conversation with one of the CNN reporters. Later the CNN journalist cited the Colonel in a phone conversation with his editor. The conversation was intercepted.
According to the intercepted radio traffic, the US forces have sustained up to 40 killed, up to 10 captured and up to 200 wounded during the fighting near An-Nasiriya. There is confirmed information about one lost attack helicopter and an unconfirmed report about a lost ground attack plane. The US forces have also lost up to 40 armored vehicles, including no less than 10 tanks. Several intercepted reports by the US field commanders stated that their troops are unable to advance due to their soldiers being demoralized by the enemy’s fierce resistance and high losses.
Four days of continuous advance exhausted the coalition forces, which now have settled into defensive positions nearly on every front to rest and regroup. As of this morning (MSK, GMT +3) the coalition forces are in control of the western part of An-Nasiriya but have no foothold on the left bank of Euphrates. The left bank of the river is controlled by the Iraqi forces, which are conducting engineering works to reinforce their defenses. A part of the Iraqi forces have been deployed to strengthen the defense of An-Najaf, where they expect the next coalition attack.
Around 2300hrs (MSK, GMT +3) March 23 a British platoon was ambushed by Iraqi Special Forces unit near Basra. Following a powerful initial artillery barrage the Iraqis engaged the British in close combat and destroyed several armored vehicles. After the Iraqis withdrew the British commander reported up to 8 killed, two missing and more than 30 wounded British soldiers. Thus over the 30% of the unit’s troops have been disabled in the attack. Reinforcements and medevac helicopters have been dispatched by the coalition to the scene of the attack.
During the past day there has been a sharp increase in combat activity in the coalition’s rearguard.
Reports have been intercepted showing at least 5 attacks on the coalition military convoys, 8 vehicles destroyed by landmines and 2 ambushes. Iraqi special operation units are mining the roads, setting up ambushes and conduct search and reconnaissance operations. The coalition forces have been ordered to halt the movement of convoys during dark hours and to provide each convoy with combat escort units and air cover.
The situation around the borderline town of Umm Qasr (population 1,500) still remains unclear. Radio intercepts and satellite images show that the town was under constant bombardment throughout out the night. The morning photos indicate its complete destruction. This shows that the coalition command, fed up with the Iraqi’s stubborn resistance, ordered the complete destruction of the town using aviation and artillery. However, according to reports by the British troops ordered to "clean up" Umm Qasr the town still contains many pockets of resistance. The overall coalition losses at Umm Qasr during the past four days amounted to up to 40 killed and up to 200 wounded. Currently it is impossible to estimate the Iraqi losses at Umm Qasr. As of yesterday’s morning the Umm Qasr garrison consisted of 1600 troops.
The units of the British marine infantry have failed to establish control over the strategically important Fao peninsula. After yesterday’s counterattack by the Iraqis the British forces have been thrown back some 3 to 5 kilometers and were forced into defensive positions. Intercepted radio communications indicate that today the British command will attempt to regain the lost ground after spending the night reinforcing their units on Fao with two additional marine infantry battalions. The overall British losses on the Fao peninsula during the past four days of fighting include up to 15 killed and up to 100 wounded. The Iraqis lost here up to 100 killed and around 100 captured.
A heated exchange of fire continues near Basra. The coalition units hesitate to enter the city and limit their actions to constant artillery and aviation bombardment of Basra. So far the coalition forces have failed to completely surround the city and to cut off the defending Iraqi garrison from the main Iraqi forces.
The US troops continue landing in northern Iraqi territories controlled by the Kurds. It is expected that as early as tomorrow morning these forces supported by the Kurdish units will make an attempt to capture the town of Kirkuk.
Aerial strikes against Iraq continued throughout the night. A total of up to 1,500 combat flights were carried out by the coalition aviation. Additionally, B-52 bombers launched more than 100 cruise missiles from the so-called "Turkish corridor". Some 150 more cruise missiles have been launched by the US and British naval forces.
Intercepted radio traffic indicates another lost coalition plane this morning. There was a confirmed loss of a "Predator" unmanned aerial reconnaissance aircraft.
Any further advances by the coalition within the next 8-12 hours are unlikely. The coalition command in Qatar has been in meeting since the early morning and is expected to come up with significant changes to the overall operational plan. According to most experts the coalition command made a most serious strategic error by starting the ground phase of the operation nearly at the very start of the war. The Americans have violated their own doctrine where the ground phases of a military operation coincide in time with the destruction of the enemy from the air.
The US made serious errors in their estimates of the Iraq’s army strength and combat readiness. The US military intelligence and the CIA failed to uncover the true potential of the Iraqi forces and, in essence, misinformed the top military and civilian leadership of the coalition member countries.
Thanks to the "Black Hawk Down" movie and their "leave no man behind" slogan.
I enjoyed reading the news report posted by robre, thank you.
It states that "Several intercepted reports by the US field commanders stated that their troops are unable to advance due to their soldiers being demoralized by the enemy’s fierce resistance and high losses."–
In the U.S. we know that we are seeing what Bush wants us to see, wants Iraq to see. The media is being used to fool everyone. The U.S. military commanders know these conversations are being intercepted and overheard just like they are intercepting Iraqis conversations. They want Iraq’s military to think that U.S. soldiers are struggling much more than they are. Why do you think their mistakes are being so openly reported by U.S. media — to make Iraqi soldiers comfortable and expect an easy victory. The reporters on TV always remind us that they tell us only what the military lets them tell us. Much more is going on in secret.
Coalition forces will soon surprise us all–America, Iraq, the world– with what they do. While we hear stories of defeat, of mistakes, of demoralized troops; and while we know the locations of some coalition forces, there are many more secretly moving in and will ambush other areas of Iraq, and particularly Baghdad, when least expected. Then we will very certainly be shocked and awed by how they secretly invaded, all the while we foolishly thought we knew their every move.
Yes, anyone who thinks we are seeing and hearing everything is a fool. Anyone who believes everything they see and hear is an even bigger fool. We are all being lied to no matter what country we are in.
There is absolutly no question that the western media representatives are just another arm in this war, and it’s a really powerfull one. The psychological warfare is critical here (actually, it’s Saddam’s ONLY hope).
Personally, I find it hard to believe all the details in Robre’s comment, specially since I had an oppertunity to train with US marines and these guys are almost un-demoralized…
Anyway, we’ll just have to wait and hold fingers for Salam and the rest of the Iraqi civilians.
And those Americans (and Europeans) are starting to look quite childish for the past 2 days or so. Like, what were you thinking a war is? I’m personally impressed that with so many soldiers and units running around, the coalition only got several dead and few POWs! Of course every person is a whole world, and I’m not underestimating anyone, but jeez, people, it’s a WAR.
Yeah, it was three weeks into Afghanistan before the reporters started comparing it to Vietnam. Here it took three days.
I think part of it is that people compare it to the ground phase of the first Gulf War, forgetting that there was over a month of massive bombing before ground troops went in.
Don’t assume that just because the bipolar media are swinging from one extreme to the other in their questions means that the average American is, too. Most of the folks I know were saying on Friday, "Wow, this is too good to last," and weren’t surprised when it didn’t.
In response to robre: To characterize American forces as demoralized four days into the war seems very naive. No one likes to see casualties, but MOST people accept this is a fact of war. I am sure the Iraqui army will put up fierce resistance in some areas and for awhile. However, fierce resistance in some areas and for awhile does NOT a victory make! Let us not forget the quote Salam uses at the top of his page… (I paraphrase)….Westerners (Americans and not French, it is presumed!) are superior at applying organized violence. Let us re-cap, only four days into the war, we have achieved total air domination, entrance and command on a southern, northern, and western front,and we’re within 50 +/- miles of the Iraqui capital. The Americans fought longer and harder on D-Day in WW2 against a better organized(and Western!) army and were quite victorious thank you very much. The troops that have pushed up from the south have cleared the way for the American fighting forces that will step up and finish this war. p.s.anyone who thinks that the peace protesters in the U.S. speak for a majority of Americans would be wrong. Dead wrong. Most people, including our troops know this.
March 25, 2003, 1230hrs MSK (GMT +3), Moscow - As of morning March 25 the situation on Iraqi fronts remains quiet. Both sides are actively preparing for future engagements. Exhausted in combat US 3rd Motorized Infantry Division is now being reinforced with fresh units from Kuwait (presumably with up to 1 Marine brigade and 1 tank brigade from the 1st Armored Division (all coming from the coalition command reserves) and elements of the British 7th Tank Brigade from the area of Umm Qasr. The troops have a stringent requirement to regroup and, after conducting additional reconnaissance, to capture An-Nasiriya within two days.
The Iraqis have reinforced the An-Nasiriya garrison with several artillery battalions and a large number of anti-tank weapons. Additionally, the Iraqis are actively deploying landmines along the approaches to their positions.
However, currently all combat has nearly ceased due to a sand storm raging over the region. Weather forecasts anticipate the storm’s end by noon of March 26. According to intercepted radio communications the coalition advance will be tied to the end of the sand storm and is planned to take place during the night of March 26-27. The coalition command believes that a night attack will allow the its forces to achieve the element of surprise and to use its advantage in specialized night fighting equipment.
There have been no reports of any losses resulting from direct combat in the past 10 hours. However, there is information about two coalition combat vehicles destroyed by landmines. Three US soldiers were wounded in one of these incidents.
Positional warfare continues near Basra. The coalition forces in this area are clearly insufficient to continue the attack and the main emphasis is being placed on artillery and aviation. The city is under constant bombardment but so far this had little impact on the combat readiness of the Iraqi units. Thus, last night an Iraqi battalion reinforced with tanks swung around the coalition positions in the area of Basra airport and attacked the coalition forces in the flanks. As the result of this attack the US forces have been thrown back 1.5-2 kilometers leaving the airport and the nearby structures in the hands of the Iraqis. Two APCs and one tank were destroyed in this encounter. According to radio intelligence at least two US soldiers were killed and no less than six US soldiers were wounded.
The coalition forces are still unable to completely capture the small town of Umm Qasr. By the end of yesterday coalition units were controlling only the strategic roads going through the town, but fierce fighting continued in the residential districts. At least two British servicemen were killed by sniper fire in Umm Qasr during the past 24 hours.
The coalition command is extremely concerned with growing resistance movement in the rear of the advancing forces. During a meeting at the coalition command headquarters it was reported that up to 20 Iraqi reconnaissance units are active behind the coalition rear. The Iraqis attack lightly armed supply units; they deploy landmines and conduct reconnaissance. Additionally, captured villages have active armed resistance that is conducting reconnaissance in the interests of the Iraqi command and is organizing attacks against coalition troops. During the past 24 hours more than 30 coalition wheeled and armored vehicles have been lost to such attacks. Some 7 coalition servicemen have disappeared, 3 soldiers died and 10 were wounded.
The coalition commander Gen. Tommy Franks ordered his forces to clear coalition rears from Iraqi diversionary units and partisans in the shortest possible time. The British side will be responsible for fulfilling these orders. A unit from the 22nd SAS regiment supported by the US 1st, 5th and 10th Special Operations Groups will carry out this operation. Each of these groups has up to 12 units numbering 12-15 troops each. All of these units have some Asian or Arabic Americans. The groups also have guides and translators from among local Iraqi collaborators, who went through rapid training at specialized centers in the Czech Republic and the UK.
The sand storms turned out to be the main enemy of the American military equipment. Just the 3rd Motorized Infantry Division had more than 100 disabled vehicles disabled. The repair crews are working around the clock to return all the disabled equipment back into service. This is causing serious concern on the part of the coalition command. The M1A2 Abrams tanks are not known for the their reliable engines as it is, but in the sand storm conditions multiple breakdowns became a real problem for the tank crews.
All attempts by the US paratroopers to capture the town of Kirkuk have yielded no result. The Americans counted on the support of the Kurds but the latter refused to take a direct part in the attack and demanded guarantees from the US command that it will prevent a Turkish invasion. The Turkish themselves are avoiding giving any such guarantees.
Additionally, the situation [at Kirkuk] is affected by the lack of heavy weapons on the part of the US paratroopers. The aviation support alone is clearly not sufficient. The northern group of forces commander Marine Brig. Gen. Osman has requested artillery and armored vehicles.
All indications are that so far the US is unable to form a combat-capable strike force in this area.
According to satellite reconnaissance it seems likely that the Iraqis had time to remove the captured Apache Longbow attack helicopter of the 11th Aviation Regiment. The pieces remaining at the landing site following a US bombing strike indicate that the bombs hit a crudely constructed mockup.
Aerial bombardment of Baghdad has so far failed to produce the expected results. All targets designated before the war have been hit 3 to 7 times, but this had almost no effect of the combat readiness of the Iraqi army, their air defenses or the command and control structures.
It seems that during preparation for the war the Iraqis were able to create new, well-protected communication lines and control centers. There is plenty of intelligence information indicating that so far the US electronic reconnaissance was unable to locate and to penetrate the Iraqi command’s communications network, which is an indication of the network’s high technological sophistication.
A particular point of concern for the US command is the huge overuse of precision-guided munitions and cruise missiles. Already the supply of heavy cruise missiles like the "Tomahawk" has been reduced by a third and, at the current rate of use, in three weeks the US will be left only with the untouchable strategic supply of these missiles. A similar situation exists with other types of precision-guided munitions. "The rate of their use is incompatible with the obtained results. We are literally dropping gold into the mud!" said Gen. Richard Mayers during a meeting at Pentagon yesterday morning. [reverse translation from Russian]
The US experts already call this war a "crisis". "It was enough for the enemy to show a little resistance and some creative thinking as our technological superiority begun to quickly lose all its meaning. Our expenses are not justified by the obtained results. The enemy is using an order of magnitude cheaper weapons to reach the same goals for which we spend billions on technological whims of the defense industry!" said Gen. Stanley McCrystal during the same Pentagon meeting. [reverse translation from Russian]
Since the early morning today the coalition high command and the Joint Chief of Staff are in an online conference joined by the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. This meeting immediately follows an earlier meeting last night at the White House. During the night meeting with President Bush emergency actions were outlined to resolve the standstill in Iraq. The existing course of actions is viewed as "ineffective and leading to a crisis". The Secretary of State Collin Powell warned that, if the war in Iraq continues for more than a month, it might lead to unpredictable consequences in international politics.
The Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Mayers reported on the proposed actions and corrections to the plan of the operation in Iraq. George Bush demanded that the military breaks the standstill in Iraq and within a week achieves significant military progress. A particular attention, according to Bush, should be paid to finding and eliminating the top Iraqi political and military leadership. Bush believes that Saddam Hussein and his closest aides are the cornerstone of the Iraqi defense.
During today’s online meeting at the coalition headquarters Gen. Franks was criticized for inefficient command of his troops and for his inability to concentrate available forces on the main tasks.
According to [Russian military] intelligence Pentagon made a decision to significantly reinforce the coalition. During the next two weeks up to 50,000 troops and no less than 500 tanks will arrive to the combat area from the US military bases in Germany and Albania. By the end of April 120,000 more troops and up to 1,200 additional tanks will be sent to support the war against Iraq.
A decision was made to change the way aviation is used in this war. The use of precision-guided munitions will be scaled down and these weapons will be reserved for attacking only known, confirmed targets. There will be an increase in the use of conventional high-yield aviation bombs, volume-detonation bombs and incendiary munitions. The USAF command is ordered to deliver to airbases used against Iraq a two-week supply of aviation bombs of 1-tonn caliber and higher as well as volume-detonation and incendiary bombs. This means that Washington is resorting to the "scorched earth" tactics and carpet-bombing campaign.
—
Looks like Salam’s death sentence to me folks. Since we bombed Iraqi infrastructure today (TV) I doubt that the internet is still operational. I was going to send him a message telling him that he better pack up just in case, but his e-mail account is full. This is probably a good thing for us because Iraq’s command infrastructure is probably based off of its internal IP network. All that information is confimed by, notice this report was published before the information reguarding the President’s meetings: http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030325-052214-4754r
God bless the GRU.
obre, would you please post the source of the news articles you are posting?
Thank you,
Angela
And thank you civax.
Whatever credibility robre might have fancied for himself is completely obliterated by his latest post. He has proven himself either a dimwit or a tool of the Iraqui propaganda machine. After checking several of his comments through not only the traditional U.S. media (which I rarely trust, myself!) and European sources, in addition to the alternative press, AND some folks from the Pentagon, I am concluding that robre is just full of (how typical) French merde. On what planet is he figuring that coalition forces are at a "standstill?" A column of tanks, Strykers, and support vehicles, 15 miles long and 7 abreast with complete at-will air domination? Oh yes, his reliance on "Russian intelligence." Hello? The Russians are (other than their greedy grab at whoring their inferior technology) are NOT really a player in this game. American forces are still cleaning up their messes in Afghanistan and supporting their former colonies in Eastern Europe. His comments about Tommy Franks "inneficient command" ultimately highlight what a poseur he really is. This is the MOST connected, HIGHLY efficient, HIGHLY effective, Saddam-killing machine the Middle East has ever seen. Like it or not, we are already the winners in spite of what robre or al-jazeerza has to say.
If only your hatred of America, freedom, liberty, honesty, and good old American know-how was enough to sustain you…ultimately, it’s not and we will prevail. And in the end, if all should go horribly wrong, I take great comfort in the knowing that we can count on the Israelis
Thanks to the Israelis for coming up with the idea of mandatory military service and living off of the decadense brought only by billions of foreign aid dollars paid for by the pencil pushing middle class of America and the working class third world citizens that ensure there will never be another true blue collar job here as long as we have "free trade and a global economy" (read as merchantilistic global economy.)
This war is unconstitutional, and it isn’t a "game." I feel sorry for you when you call it one.
You do seem to share the frivolity that the Israelis use when viewing this situation. To them it’s just a way to score some more aid and do modeling shoots infront of the new PATRIOT missile systems: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2867619.stm
—
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Preamble to the Constitution
"The United States goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is a well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own. If the United States took up all foreign affairs, it would become entangled in all the wars of interest and intrigue, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom. She might become the dictatress of the world. She would be no longer the ruler of her own soul."
President
John Quincy Adams
Robre, appearnatly Russian GRU is just a Debka in russian. It mixes facts with a lot of imagination of the editors…
Check out Diana’s post on it…
Beside, with all Psychological war going on, I would doute ANY news I’m hearing.
robre,
The Israelis didn’t invent mandatory military service. The Romans as well as the Greeks conscripted their citizenry in peace times as well as war.
The JQAdams bit is nice, buy hey, he way WAY before 9/11. As far as I’m concerned 9/11 changes everything. I do not want to live in a world dominated by the political whims of terrorists. I would be the very first to admit that the American model is not perfect BUT it sure beats the heck out of anything I’ve seen so far, and that includes the Russians!
Oh by the way, the middle-class does a heck of alot more than pencil pushing. We also produce a whole lot of FOOD! And oh yeah, Tomahawk cruise missiles!
One more thing robre,
Before you go around spouting the Constitution of the United States, how bout having a look at thing?
One more thing robre,
when I used the term "…not in the game" I was speaking figuratively and not literally. I hope you understand that.
"If only your hatred of America, freedom, liberty, honesty, and good old American know-how was enough to sustain you…ultimately, it’s not and we will prevail. And in the end, if all should go horribly wrong, I take great comfort in the knowing that we can count on the Israelis."
Yes, we’ll prevail in our Hitler-esque invasion of another country. It’s no secret though that our "Hitler" is backed by an extremely well-organized and expansive infrastructure whose aims are dictated by the Zionists. How do you think he came to power? Their target list is already being processed as we eye Iran and the other Arab nations they would like to see "removed".
We’ll prevail in eroding the "freedom" and "liberty" that once made us great. In the end, your America will not prevail — ours will. The vicious, criminal activities that characterize today’s government will not be tolerated.
"…good old American know-how" ummm, yeah. Clearly this "know-how" isn’t good enough to release the strangle-hold of Zionist goals. Your ideal view of the U.S. should be sure to include that most of the citizens are dumb sheep who are either too scared to face their government or too selfish to care what it does.
Tyranny is upon us. Pray your country stops its self-righteous crusade and prepare to clean up the economic and social doom that approaches.
"Debka in Russian" LOL!
I’m sorry I posted it, it is now being accepted as fact and widely circulated!
Mr. K,
Perhaps your world view does include Iraqi soldiers raping 13 year old girls. Perhaps your world view does include airplanes sailing into office buildings. Perhaps your world view tolerates what is low and base and despicable. Perhaps you are way too paranoid about a Zionist mafia! My world view most certainly does NOT! Why settle for a ugly and violent version of life, when with a little courage and a lotta heart you can have something better? I wouldn’t want your bitterness for all the tea in China. Or oil in Iraq. As for American sheep, yes they are here aplenty, bleating their ignorance…what country doesn’t have to make apologies for some of it’s less than desirable citizens? Kind of like the loud and opinionated Uncle at family dinner. But I feel that as a nation, the U.S. in spite of our imperfections, has made a contribution to world…namely, the very idea of freedom and liberty and (hello!) the pursuit of happiness. And oh-by-the-way…I didn’t vote for George Bush but your characterization of him as "Hitler" is comical.
Diana,
Please look at the date of my first post of an article from the site (03/25/2003 02:32 AM CST) and the time you posted it on your site (March 25, 2003 10:39 PM).
The war is the only product of ego made by just a few persons who are willing to get some pleasure for themselves, although pretending to be justice.
The criticism of Americans attitude to war is unjustified. This is especially so considering that Europe is only free because of America and that Israel receives our support because it is a worthy and supportive ally. Probably our best ally.
So lets not point fingers.
We are more shocked than others because we are not used to war. We are also the ones that suffered the most violent terrorist attack in history on Sep 11.
No other city, other than New York would have been able to suffer such a blow and stabilize so quickly.
And those of you who can should visit that gaping hole in Southern Manhattan. Perhaps you will then understand what happened.
The war against Iraq is a just and valid war of self-defense. We will not allow anyone to threaten America and get away with it.
Let everyone be on notice that America is kicking ass and taking numbers.
America is a generous and forgiving country, but be warned, that you do not want to make an enemy of us. Like Israel, we also do not lose.
For current resources on the SAS Regiments, including the Australian SAS Regiment, see http://www.survivalistskills.com/sas.htm.
There is also a substantial archive of fascinating and invaluable ‘New World Order Intelligence Update’ articles on the New World Order at http://www.survivalistskills.com/sect22.htm and archived also at http://www.rarehistorybooks.com/NWOLINKS.HTM. The ‘NWOIU’ site itself is currently being substantially re-constructed, but these archived articles are well worth reading.