"Mr Powell told CBS News that bolstering troop numbers would be unlikely to reverse the 'grave and deteriorating situation' in the country."
Colin Powell: US losing Iraq war
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6188693.stm
2006-12-17 15:59:11 · 6 answers · asked by Joe_Pardy 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
After American and British inaction, Bosnian muslims were forced to turn to international terrorist fighters for protection against the Serbs. When NATO did intervene, the mostly secularized muslims encouraged the radicals to leave.
In Baghdad today, an average Shia has to go about his life knowing that one day an al-Queda cell could blow up a car beside his children's school. Everyone there knows who's responsible. So an average Shia would be willing to pay tribute to the death squads that will kill the Sunnis before they can strike again. The fact that there's no security means that tribal loyalty takes supersedes Iraqi nationalism.
Our troops in Iraq are a magnet for the terrorists, and putting in more will obviously raise the people's hatred of the us. But's its better to have them shooting at American soldiers than at Iraqi kids. As time goes on, the average Iraqi won't like us any more but the reestablishment of security in the urban areas will have a cooling effect for the rest of the country. Most Americans don't realize that the only real violence is in the mixed-ethic, downtown cities.
Peace comes after security. This has been proven time and time again in Yugoslavia, Russia, Isreal, Northern Ireland, and everywhere else.
2006-12-17 16:36:14 · answer #1 · answered by brodyinc 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
More troops will not change the hearts and minds of the IRAQ people. Our window of opportunity for that magical outcome has passed.
2006-12-17 16:08:54 · answer #2 · answered by deadstroak 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Troops without tackling the social situation would not help much. Unless you send a troop of social scientists, humanitarian helpers, teachers, scientists... military troops cannot help much with just guns.
2006-12-17 16:02:25 · answer #3 · answered by mmsc 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We don't need any troops in Iraq.
Just a few Daisy Cutter bombs in selected areas.
2006-12-17 16:11:41 · answer #4 · answered by Rusty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes definitely.
2006-12-17 18:53:16 · answer #5 · answered by sparkleloves 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He knows what he is talking about, he has a brilliant military strategic mind, just sad that nobody in our Government listened to his advise.
2006-12-17 16:06:26 · answer #6 · answered by mimi 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋