why is the US military (the biggest and best in the world) having such a hard time in Iraq?

Question

when you look at the opposition, i often wonder why the best military with the latest technology is having a difficult time there.

Answer 1

Actually, we aren't the biggest military in the world. Most likely China is with the ability to field over 200 million troops. We are hands down, the most technologically advanced however.

There are a variety of reasons why we are having a hard time in Iraq. I will share with you a few:

1. When you topple a government, destroy its infrastructure and replace it with nothing, the local populace has nothing to do but try and survive. If jobs were provided to those recently out of power, the radical Islamic extremists would have a harder time at recruitment. All you have to do is provide people with a few jobs, give them food, shelter and some sense of accomplishment on a daily basis and you have them. Is there any wonder Radical Islam prospers in poor countries?

2. Assymetrical warfare (unconventional tactics) causes havoc to any Army used to traditional fighting doctrines. The Russians got hammered from 79-89 in Afghanistan by the Muhadjideen fighters using assymetrical warfare tactics. Granted, we supplied them with weapons, but we didn't have to teach them to use whatever means necessary to drive the Russians out. We had our Vietnam, and the Russians got theirs.

3. The politicians have got to figure out a way to deal with Iraq and not necessarily using the military strategy. We don't want collateral damage in Iraq like we had in WWII and Vietnam. In those wars we destroyed everything in our path to include innocent civilians. In Iraq, the enemy is everywhere and nowhere. We have to win the hearts and minds of the people in order to really have an effect over there. Create jobs, let the oil flow (to the Iraqis) and give the local populace a sense of security in order to move on with their lives.

Answer 2

If everyone remembers, the "War" was handled with efficiency and had realitivly few deaths. The military went in there and took care of business much like the general public would expect and the situation was at hand in a fairly short timeframe.

Once we switched to a security mode and the insurgents had time to start organizing they were able to make it considerably more difficult for the military. Guerilla warfare is difficult to defend yourself against since it is so unconventional and doesn't require an obvious enemy. Our soldiers aren't being shot by opposing troops they are being killed and injured by radicals that strap bombs to their bodies hide bombs along a road side under the cover of darkness and wait for an opportune moment to unleash it's destructive power. The issue is complicated by the fact that they are working in public places and EVERYONE could potentially be the enemy. It doesn't take many people to inflict the death and destruction brought forth by the insurgents. All the tecnology in the world can't protect you from an enemy that looks and acts just like the people you are protecting.

These enemy combatants are defending what they believe to be a great evil, there is no sense of right or wrong and collateral damage is not considered when they plan an operation rather they plan on killing or maiming as many people as possible so they can try and get journalists to write opinions that will help to erode support for what is happening over there and make the US Military and government out to be the bad guys.

Everyone has their opinion about why we are there....be it oil, to bring freedom to the Iraqi people or just to flex our muscle but until the publically elected government can take over fully, we must do what we can to help. Regretfully it will cost more lives but it will make the world a safer place in the long run.

Answer 3

We are not the largest military in the world. We are the best however. By far. We routed the Taliban in 8 months out of Afghanistan and we smashed Saddams forces in WORLD RECORD BREAKING TIME. Taking Baghdad in under 2 months. Never been done before in the history of warfare. Our technical superiority is so far advanced than that of our counterparts is scary. Unfortunately, Mommy doesn't want little Johnny to have to wear a unifrom so we do not have a draft anymore and all these sissies get to go to college and protest those who are keeping there sissy butts out of the fire and free to speak their minds, while our real heroes join up and go fight these ridiculous Haji's who think they can fight but at evry major battle have had there butt kicked. All you need in Iraq right now is 4 battalions of Special Forces integrated into Baghdad and the bombings would stop within 4-6weeks with proper intel. The military knows this. War over. All terrorists dead. 4-6 weeks. guaranteed. Just send em in.

Answer 4

Because "cold war" tactics and ideas do not work in modern warfare. Compare the tactics of Napoleon to the Tactics of the American civil war. The ACW tactics were formulated from Napoleons tactics.

So, war is ever evolving as are the tactics. Heck, their were still Horse Cavalry in WW2 on the battlefield. Even after their slaughters in the wake of the WW1 machine Gun.

So, it boils down the creating new tactics on the fly as every conflict has done. You can study ideas and possible tactical situations all day but until you apply those to a combat arena. You have no idea how successful it will be.

In 5-10 years you will start to see a shift in how all armies train and prepare for this time of warfare. Urban warfare has all ways been the most deadly form of combat.

Thanks

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Because once again, just like in Vietnam, politicians are putting numerous restrictions on the military which in turn, restricts their ability to wage war, and win. Turn them loose and let them do the job they were trained for. They spend to much time worrying about killing one little innocent Iraqi girl by accident, then getting the job done. Thus allowing dozens of American Soldiers to get killed as a result. This is war, people die. Innocent people as well. The Iraqis want it both ways. Protect us from the terrorists and insurgents, but get out of our country. We need to put in more troops, kick the sh*t out of the bad guys once and for all, and get out. People will get killed, that's the harsh reality. Get over it people.

Answer 7

Everyone is wrong:


We cant win. There is nothing to win. You cant kill an ideal of hatred. We need to train an Army and wish it luck; then get the hell out and hope the Army can work.

Let NATO or the UN get involved if the military fails.

Answer 8

Because the war in Iraq is one that can in no way be settled militarily.
Not only that, but remember our troops are in the middle of a civil war. The only way this Iraq debacle can be settled is through diplomatic talks.

Answer 9

For the same reason that Israel looked helpless in Lebanon if you are going to get involve in a war you have to totally decimate your enemy and not worry about civilians casualties when you start worrying about women or children casualties you are in trouble, if we had fought any of the pass wars with this strategy we would have lost.

Answer 10

Because they are trying to act as police and peacekeepers. They just need to turn them loose and let them do the job without all the restrictions. Some civilians would probably get caught in the crossfire, but I imagine that it would be less than are dying now.