Tom Yum

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8937d094fc

Although the war is becoming less popular here at home, I read that progress is being made one day at a time by the Iraqi special police force in cities like Fallujah.

A recent press release stated that the force lead an invasion recently killed several hundred insurgents, with little US help.

That sounds like progress to me, but I really don't know. The more successful missions they can lead, the better off they are. I'd imagine that there's still problems with insurgents infiltrating said groups, but you hear about it alot less.

Anyhow, the men and women serving are doing a bad ass job. I know I wouldn't want them to come home feeling like their service was for nothing. Their experience has to be appreciated and hopefully leveraged in positive ways back home.

Ideally, Iraq will become a stable nation again. And there people will not only survive, but thrive.

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Tom Yum

I can see your thinking about getting behind the leader and its a good point. At the same time, we have to look at the mistakes being made and either correct them or compensate for them in some way.

Boar has brought up alot of instances where some of the things we've done (i.e. flashbangs to the sheep, playing bumper cars with the locals) isn't winning the hearts and minds of the people.

Another concern is why we would consider attacking Iran, when we haven't finished the war in Iraq or Afghanistan. That's too many fires going at once, isn't it? Not to mention the financial cost of the current wars and how to manage the ever-growing debt.

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BoarSpear

It's great to hear that some things are starting to go well for the Iraqi forces. No doubt that momentum is a HUGE factor in winning hearts and minds as well as wars. Thats precisely why running ops (and wars) should be done as professionally as possible, that way you can publicize the victories without having to hide how you accomplished them. If you can show integrity, honesty and courage are the hallmarks of your Armies then the people in need of assistance will flock to you. Human nature is just that...people will do whats most profitable or best and safest for them. If you make it clear your Army is that entity you will have the vast majority on your side because being on the winning side is critical to surviving when you're the indigenous population of a contested land. When both sides have leaders who clearly lie and support torture and such heinous behaviors its REALLY hard to chose which side will be best to be under the thumb of...However if only one side murders civilians and rapes your women and children then the choice is clear who to support isnt it?

If you are forced to keep your victories silent because of the things you did to secure them they weren't REALLY victories since you didn't make the people trust you...you made them doubt you. So victories we can show and discuss with our heads held high will BURY the insurgency VERY quickly...Hearts and minds...you cant win them without GOOD publicity. If your actions don't warrant good publicity clean your act up, people who torture, lie, rape and murder are the problem, NOT the people who expose their behavior...you are responsible for your actions, not the press.

The returning troops wounds (visible and not so visible) need to be treated. HOW we treat our returning Troops effects the Morale of the next generation when you call on them...again it all comes down to acting With Honor and Integrity, treating wounded vets like shit shows what you REALLY think of our service. If its a well run war then its a popular war and so are the troops...When Leaders LIES get Nations into bad situations its the troops who bear the brunt of the enemies hostility AND the publics hostility. Look at how troops returning from WW2 were treated VS The Korean War and Vietnam War or Gulf War 1 vets for that matter...What changed? The public's perception of our leaders and their wars....Bush HAD everyones support, his lies and bullshit squandered it all...actions speak louder than propaganda.

Tom Yum

Great lessons to ponder over Boar. Thanks.

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Tom Yum

A gem right there.

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