just what! will it take to win a civil war we are involved in?

Answer 1

We (the US) are not currently directly engaged in a civil war.

We are vicariously involved in someone else's civil war, because we have chosen to play babysitter during the conflict.

What will it take to win? Well, we cannot win the civil war, because we're not fighting as one of the sides. At best, we can choose sides and help that one side win. But that's a win for them, not a win for us.

Answer 2

Is it really a civil war?

Right now Iraq has an "army" and a national "police" force. The army is not on par with any western army. It is undertrained (but improving) and somewhat corrupt. Manned at it's command levels by Shia who often have motives not in the best interest of Iraq. Some of the Shia commanders are motivated by greed or the desire to take revenge on the Sunni minority.

The national police force is even worse. It is run by the Ministry of the Interior. Which is run by (mostly) Shias who are even more corrupt than those that run the army.

The average Iraqi has limited or no access to services that we, in the west, take for granted. Things like honest local police, essential medical care, reliable supplies of fuel and electricity, reliable supplies of food, sanatation services, etc.

This lack of a basic infastructure caused a breakdown in Iraqi society. The worst possible element has been allowed to run wild; Stealing, extorting and murdering. The majority of the population does not take part in these illegal activties. Most Iraqis want peace and order restored. Without some form of law enforcement and basic services it only takes a small percentage of people to cause a great deal of trouble. Imagine what would happen in a western country if the fuel trucks stopped, the electricity went off and the police decided not to come to work anymore.

Making things worse is the participation of those that are not from this country. They come here to see that Iraq fails. Remember it is not in the best interest of all of Iraq's neighbors to see an Iraq prosperous and on friendly terms with the West.

So is it a civil war? No. Throwing a phrase like that around is dramatic and sounds really interesting on the evening news, but it is not accurate. The truth is that there overwhelming lawlessness on the streets of Iraq. But it really is not a civil war.

What Iraq needs from the West is continued assistance and patience. An honest and strong government, system of law enforcement (it has neither yet) and the infastructure (food, fuel, roads, electricity) needs to be built before coalition forces withdraw. Time and additional troops is what is required here now.

Answer 3

We should not be involved in a civil war between two entities. We should look at our own civil war and how we would have behaved had another nation stepped in between the USA and the CSA.

Answer 4

We are not involved in a civil war, although there are elements trying to bring this about. We are involved in a conflict with terrorist thugs who are trying to regain control of the government that was wrested from them, and with people who insist on resupplying these thugs.

Answer 5

The Civil War ended a long time ago. Haven't you heard ?

Answer 6

He hit the nail on the head. We can't win. At best they will achieve a liveable peace long enough to get us to leave and when we do be at each other like never before. We can't change in a decade or even two what it took many to create. Besides British and American meddling has contributed a great deal to the hostilities between groups in Iraq over the years already. More of the same won't fix it.

Curious how helmut thinks we are trying to resist the terrorist thugs we deposed when one of the theories been passed around proposes backing the baathists in their main region to help them gain control. Don't get me wrong I'm pro-war, but this one is gonna be a long time running.