How did a few thousand unorganized fighters bog down Bush's military strategists in Iraq FOR 4 YEARS???

Question

Where is the "victory" in that? I mean, its like the 300 Spartans versus the mightiest military ever galvanized by man. AK-47s versus F-22 Raptors.

It definately is NOT a shortcoming of US soldiers, they accomplish EVERY mission. It IS a shortcoming of the plans approved by the "Commander and Chief". Is it not?

why isn't Bush fired by now for total incompetence?

Captain (below) Thier level of "organization" rivals tha of the US Boy Scouts. COmpared to the US military they are as foot loose and fancy free as any other radical group. Sending an extremely broad command via carrier pigeon isn't all that organized. Especially for fighting a war.

- forgive the "two finger" typos above -

tenthame (below) So NY Times moral boosters is the key? Wow! That makse soooo much sense (NOT). Come on man. Even if such a thing were plausible, how would that enable anyone to accomplish so much for so long? Listen, Bush is the decider, and he made BAD decisions.

witwwats (below) states:

- "Our troops aren't the idiots you think they are" -

Will ANYBODY please read my post and point out the part where I referred to the troops as "idiots". $5000 to the person that can.

Don't you just hate it when extreme radicals dump words in your posts that ARE NOT there? Poor guy.... tsk tsk

Answer 1

Cause they are baloney.
kinda true ak vs raptors but still got no results probabaly will stay this way for years to come.
PLus Bush fires any generals who doesnt agree with him so there might be something there

Answer 2

Yes and No.

You are correct that the war was poorly planned (the same mistakes were made that been made in Korea and Vietnam), and that much of blame lies with President and his aides, but there is more to it than that.

The American army, over time, has become so sophisticated that it when faced with very simple opponents, it is more or less helpless. During the massive weapon build-up during the Cold War, America created amazingly sophisticated machinery, tactics, and strategems. However, insurgents and other guerillas are far less complex. To properly envision this, imagine a champion chess player playing against a two year old. When pitted against average or tough players, the champion can easily win. But the two year old simply moves peices around with such randomness and lack of strategy that the champion chess player cannot effectively play- since he can't tell what on earth his opponent will do.

Additionaly, America was prepared by the Cold War to fight a 'civilized' war against other organized armies using a military hierarchy. Insurgents have litte or no hierarchy and do fight in the same way Western countries do. No uniforms, no ID, and no equipment. This means that the army cannot tell a civilian from a fighter (a problem that first came up in Vietnam).

The final problem is the difference in ideals.
While the Americans are prepared to surrender, take captives, etc. the insurgents adhere the Eastern idea of 'No Surrender' (much like WWII Japan). They are prepared to attempt suicidal bombings while the Americans do not.

Answer 3

The number of 4,000 is just our troops death toll. We never hear about the death toll of our contractors (mercenaries) Iraqi civilian deaths that have been estimated between 300,000 to well over a million and the displaced Iraqi families (also estimated at well over a million) All if this going on in an area twice the size of Idaho, and for absolutely no good reason. The things you cite are of concern and you are right, there does not seem to be much being done about them, however that does not in any way excuse, explain the Iraq war. I would suspect that over the last five years there have been more than 4,000 murders in the United States committed by the victims spouse. Shall we begin a crusade against marrage?

Answer 4

In all seriousness--I think its because we've been fighting something that does not exist.

What Imean is that all the US tactics andstrategy are based onfighting "insurgents" and terrrorists." Now, that there are now terrorists and non-Iraqi fighters present, even though they wern't tere before Bush invaded,) I know--and that's the point--that's what we are trying to fight.

But it's not the reality--in the sense tht that is NOT what is driving the violence. What I think is the underlying cause is that Iraqis see themselves as having been invaded and occupied by a foreign power--and the "Iraqi government" as simply a puppet regime set up by the invader.

And--they are doing what people in scocieties usually do--they are fighting back. In short--this is not an "insurgency"--it is (to the Iraqi people) a resistance movement aimed at liberating their country.
Ad you don't deeat that kind of movement. Not in a year--or 10--or 100 years. Look at history--conquered peoples struggle for decades, sometimes centuries, to regain independance.

NOTE: It does not matter if this is a "true" belief on the part of the Iraqi people--the point is that it is what they DO believe.

Answer 5

The reason its taken so long is because we didn't just go in and nuke it. I'm not saying we should have either.
One of the Biggest things the Soldiers are trying to do over there is win over the the Iraqi people. If you doubt what I say at all, read " My Men are My Hero's" story of Brad Kasel. You totally understand why they have taken so long after reading that. Stuff like ROE (Rules Of Engagement) prevent the soldiers from shooting at unarmed people. So all the terrorists have to do is shoot from a house, kill a guy, then drop their gun and walk away freely. That right there should tell that what I say is true!!!

Answer 6

I believe the gravest mistake was, and I will not get into the political mistakes, total disbanding of Iraqi security forces - army and police. US army, or any army, can't do police business. Training of new Iraqi forces is too expensive and lasts too long. Also, the population sees those men as collaborators with the occupying force, so there can be no effective police while foreign troops are marching the streets.

Answer 7

I can only suggest that they are not so unorganized, they fight with unconventional means and they shield themselves behind normal citizens.
The conventional war was won quickly, but this kind of sabotage and guerrilla war is extremely difficult to win.
But I agree they should have foreseen such a possibility and prepare for this kind of war, and they didn't.

Answer 8

To the extent that your premise is true, the enemy gets moral support and considerable encouragement from the New York Times and other democrat loving media in our own country. Don't discount the value of that to the enemy.

Answer 9

Radical Islam has been organizing, recruiting and encouraging hatred for decades. It was time to stop ignoring them. Some things in life are difficult.

Answer 10

Chi-guy!

Another misdirected and inane question!

For the same reason that the Crips and Bloods run circles around the New York Cops.

This is guerrilla warfare where we attempt to preserve the population and they hide behind it.

Maybe we could just Napalm the entire country?

So, you enlisted yet to go and help them get it right?