Why can't our Iraq war policy be WIN IT?

Question

I HELLBENT do not want to cut & run.

I WANT TO WIN!

Answer 1

We'd better figure out a way to win it - defeat is NOT an option. Radical Islam wants conversion or death. They have been very clear and specific about their feelings and intents. Do some of you think the "DEATH TO AMERICA" chants are all just good times? Those have been going on LONG before Bush.

I'm with you, HELLBENT - we can't afford NOT to win.

And for the record, the "mission accomplished" speech DID signify a big milestone in the war - we made it into Baghdad without the huge losses the Iraqi Information Officer kept insisting we would have.

Answer 2

Who do we defeat? Right now, there seems to be two wars going on: The US military vs Al Qaeda on one hand and Sunnis vs Shi'ites on the other. So you've got a conventional war, guerilla style and a civil war.

The initial errors the Bush team made - we would be treated as heros, disbanding the Iraqi army, too few troops on the ground, Iraqi oil would bankroll the entire war have proved to be major errors in judgment.

The corruption of the Iraqis has proven to be another very difficult problem to overcome. Just last week, there were mass kidnappings by terrorists in Iraqi military uniforms, no doubt purchased from or given by government officials. The oil has been coming out in drips and often the pipelines are sabotaged. The bad guys have infiltrated the police, the military and many government posts.

Other factors might include the 2 or 3 tours of duty our troops are having to do - that can't be helping troop morale. The extensive use of Reservists and National Guard members instead of Regular army as diluted our fighting strength somewhat. (Hey, I was a US Army Reserve member and I know we were dedicated by usually not up to par with the Regular Army troops we trained with. Too old, too slow, but mainly too old.)

And like Vietnam, no front line, an enemy that can blend back into the general population. Very frustrating for our guys over there to identify the enemy.

HELLBENT, please tell us how we are going to win? What is the plan? Bush has nothing to lose - he's not running for anything anymore and he can do anything he wants. But he doesn't know what to do either.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, the more troops and the more horrific the use of torture and violence against the Iraqis, the more muslims from throughout the world are committed to defeating the Americans in Iraq. It's a horrible trap, like a rat being suffocated by a boa constrictor. The more effort we put into defeating the muslims, the quicker we will be destroyed over there. The more we struggle, the worse it gets for us. The root problem of the war is the world's muslims are not inclined to be told how to run their nations.

Answer 4

In order to "win" we would need to occupy and control a country of 27 million people, most of whom don't want us there.

I understand your desire to 'win'- but are you willing to re-institute the draft, and have 600,000 to 1M soldiers over there, instead of the ~120,000 that are there right now?

Then- when you stabilize the government and they have free elections- they elect a government that is not friendly to America. What exactly do you want to 'win?'

We are no longer fighting a war- we are occupying a country, and trying to police it from becoming a bloodbath of a civil war. Oddly enough- to protect the Sunni minority that was the ruling class under Saddam Hussein.

Answer 5

Many military campaigns fail because the armies define the wrong criteria for "winning".

Napoleon captured Moscow. Woo-hoo, only that the Russians had burnt it down just before its surrender. The French had nothing to eat and had to retreat. Napoleon lost 90% of his men this way.

If you can think of a way to prevent the insurgency from growing, gaining traction, and cowering the Iraqi population into rejecting the opposition, then great. I myself have no idea.

Answer 6

I never agreed with going in the first place,,,,, But I have never said cut and run either. Now that we are in the shape we are in over there I think it is senseless to keep on dragging it on.I think we should go full force and tear their ashes up & be done with it. Less of our soldiers would be killed that way too I think. They are just sitting ducks over there now being picked off one by one. That might only send the terrorists into hiding untill we leave but it will give the iraq soldiers time to get their sh-t together untill they can do it on there own

Answer 7

If you want to win so bad sqidbilly then hop on down to the recuiting center. I bet your yellow and cowardly and do not have the guts to stand up for your flag. You hide behind it and spout bravado while your fellow Americans die for Zionism.

I am the Fringe and how can America win a military incursion when it's bravest soliders are still in the homeland asking questions on Yahoo?

Answer 8

It can be. But Bush doesn't want to win, he wants it to be a never ending war in which him and his defense contractor buddies keep raking inn the dough(yours, mine and all the other taxpayers $).

He was told up front that they needed twice as many troops as he would allow and three years later he still isn't trying to get it done and over with.

Answer 9

I have to say that I don't fully understand your question. According to our President George Bush, we "did" win the war some years ago. I watched him give that speech. Praised our troops for a great and wonderful victory. What could you be talking about??? Not calling the president a "liar" are you??? :-)

Answer 10

because it takes a lot more than "win it" to win a war...

there are stratagies and actual planning...

which Bush has not done and the Republicans are wondering why just saying "let's win!' isn't working...

war is much more than just saying "let's win it!"... and I think Bush is starting to figure that out...

war isn't a Rambo movie