135,000 troops, not all combat, 25,000,000 Iraqis, the country has been in civil war for some time, generals have said the troop strength is too low...will the troops be caught in a pincer? Or a massive blow?
It would only take a small percentage of well organized Iraqis.
2006-09-01 11:09:00 · 14 answers · asked by helixburger 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
There's already a not-so-small percentage (insurgents control whole sections of towns) and they are pretty well organized (Jaysh al-Islami and Mahdi Army). However, they have no armor, artillery, air or naval power. What can these guys (consistently) do against tanks, air power, etc.?
Suicide operations and beheadings were the first signs of desperation on the part of insurgents. They lost long ago, although prolonged occupation keeps troops exposed to hostility and danger.This is a mere insurgency (though not to discredit troops there as being in no danger at all-far from it) played up intentionally by the media. Various intelligence aparatti out there keep good tabs on enemy strength, leadership, tactics, equipment, losses, capabilities, probable courses of action, etc. I don't believe coalition troops are in any danger of being "decimated" in a "massive strike".
Cheers
2006-09-01 11:44:26 · answer #1 · answered by Eliphas C 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We would see the mobilization of a force large enough to do that in enough time to prevent it. Also, they're scattered over an entire region.
Civilians without training and without access to a lot of weaponry would not last long in a stand up fight against proffessional troops with air support.
It would take something the size of 2 or 3 country's armies to strike with enough surety of wiping the Coalition forces out, or even halving their strength.
If the Iraqi people actually rose up, they could nake our lives a living hell. But all they really have to do is ask us to leave, and we'd be gone in a month. They haven't asked us to leave, the elected government has asked us to stay for a while, , so we're still there
2006-09-01 18:17:25 · answer #2 · answered by notoldcrow 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best way for that to happen, is by a massive air and or sea strike from the Iraqis, (via alqeda). They would have mass cauciltys of iraqi people also.
If they were to quickly allie themselves with say...Iran, they might have a go at it.
2006-09-01 18:41:21 · answer #3 · answered by dvx9 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
and they're well-armed too
but don't worry, they spend more time blowing eachother up than us. until they organize, we'll be fine. that's the beauty of the iraq war, in making the weapons manufacturers rich... the violence is mainly between them, and our troops are not suffering constant losses on the same level as Vietnam
2006-09-01 18:12:11 · answer #4 · answered by Aleksandr 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. We have been outnumbered many times in recent conflicts. Check out Somalia if you don't believe me. That was the USA without proper backup. Nearly the whole city had come down on them. Our boys still kicked their @##es.
2006-09-02 00:47:26 · answer #5 · answered by BluntTrama 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think not in the way you envision. Rather, a country like Iran would provide a nuclear weapon to their Shiites in Iraq to put to use.
2006-09-01 18:12:08 · answer #6 · answered by speakeasy 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no, our soldiers are trained enough to take on any #'s.
on the 8th of november, around 145 Americans were attacked by 1500 enimies and we one.
2006-09-01 18:14:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
140000 to be more precise. With more enroute. We have not even used our good stuff yet. Won't happen until Iran blows it
2006-09-01 18:14:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In a massive strike of camels, sand, figs?
2006-09-01 18:33:26 · answer #9 · answered by Sgt. VietnamVet 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
American troops are obeying orders from Rumsfeld,,,, their being killed by the Sunni's,,,, who are killing the Shiite's,,, who are killing the Sunni's,,,,
2006-09-01 18:19:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋