Do you think the US military would be beter off if they didn't worry about destroying the local culture?

Question

Like how they can't fight in mosques and stuff.

Answer 1

You are heading down the road to discovering the way that you win a war. You can easily lose every battle and WIN the war.

That is what the Vietnamese did.

The secret to winning a war is to get the other guys to give up. We knew this at one time. The brittish were astonished how americans fought like lions and then were gentle as lambs when you were captured. We won World Wars 1 and 2 and every war we ever won this way also.

It made people surrender easier. A simple but frustrating fact of war is that the fewer people you kill and the nicer you treat them when they give up the better chance you have of winning. It is simple, if you believe that you will have your genitals tied to another man's and be thrown down on the floor writhing in pain for perverted amusement, or water boarded, or told to stand on a box over a puddle of electrified water with a noose around your neck would you fight to the death? I know I would.

The fact is we are having no trouble winning battles. We kill everybody we want to easily. Oh if it were just as simple as killing enough people to get them to give up. The War would be over.

We have lost 1 war thinking that would work already.

Scorched Earth has never worked except as defensive strategy in the history of mankind.

If you destroy a man's home and kill his family he has no reason to live except revenge. Where will he go if the war ends. The only family, the only shelter, the only comfort he has is his army and the sweet feeling of killing one of your people. Sweet, Sweet Revenge. Bang! that is for my Momma. Boom that is for my sister. Peace does not come for me until I am dead regardless of when the fighting ends any way.

Answer 2

Yeah! Look I love history I love it so much I majored in it in college so it kills me when I see a piece of history destroyed. Now having said that, I think when one is waging a war one can not worry about breaking a few eggs. In war things happen horrific things happen, innocent people are killed, buildings destroyed, and things of great historical and religious value get destroyed. That's just the way war is, it is not a surgical way of conducting international relations. One can not pick and choose where to fight and what can and can not be destroyed all the time. I do think they should try not to destroy the places of worship but at the same time if it came down to blowing up a mosque, church, or synagogue, to save the life of even one of our solders, I say blow it up!! During world war II Eisenhower was faced with a similar issue. There was a very, very old and historic monastery on a hill that the Germans had control of it was in a strategic location. Many people did not want the place to get bombed and destroyed. Yet if they left it intact and tried to assault the monastery hundreds of men would have lost their lives. Well needless to say they called in bombers and leveled it. I will admit that story does bother me some due to the fact it was a historic site and it was a Christian monastery, but they did the right thing. That saved many of our men's lives. So I say to hell with culture, history, religion, and everything else when one is in war. The only goal is to win!! Our government and the brass at the Pentagon need to open their eyes and see that this is a war and not just a sight seeing tour for our troops and these fool congressmen who go over there and prance around in front of the cameras. It is time to take off the kid gloves and start conducting this war, like a real war. Then maybe we would not have so many of our guys getting hurt and killed. Heck they are so worried about offending someone or accidentally shooting a civilian that they end up getting themselves shot all to pieces. Yes they should be allowed to fight in mosques and any place else they find an enemy. They should also kick out every reporter in the area! But that's for another question and another time. =)

Answer 3

I'd say destroying the local culture is paramount to success.
The insurgents and terrorists use Mosques as staging grounds for attacks, weapons and ammo storage and just all around military facilities. It makes sense to level them. It also has the effect of letting the locals know that the US military is far superior to allah, belief in their ficticious allah is the source of their backwards medieval ways.

Answer 4

this question is actually easier to answer than it seems.
during WWII my grandfather was involved with the liberation of Italy. at mount casino (sp) they took ridiculous casualties because the Germans were using an historically significant monastery to launch artillery from. the U.S. Army had to take this monastery rather than just bomb it to the ground.

as i was taught in my beloved Corps... you may not fire on:
1. schools*
2. hospitals*
3. places of worship*

*unless the enemy is using this protected place to stage / launch an attack or as a sniper/spotter position.

the rules of war are clear on this.
unfortunately we are facing an enemy that has used these "un-attackable" places to attack us and then screams foul when we do what has to be done. the Mohammedans used this tactic in Bosnia during the last Balkan wars, in Kosovo, in Chechnya, in Macedonia, in Afghanistan, and Iraq. they use this tactic because they have learned that the media in this country will (and has) crucify our military for doing what they must to complete the objective.

that is a long winded way of saying that our troops should be able to take what ever action is necessary when operating in hostile environments within the constraints of the rules of war.

Answer 5

I guess it depends on what teh purpose of the fighting is.

If you don't care about the local polulation and just want to destroy the enemy, no matter the cost, then sure.

I think we're better than that.

Answer 6

Those rules of engagement were lifted when the surge commenced over the summer. Without those rules US military personnel have been able to take out insurgents no matter where they hide.

Answer 7

i think if they were to assault mosques it would only be bad news. if the enemy uses mosques and the like to fight and plan attacks out of, it would help us where it matters.

Answer 8

HOWDY!!! Darth,

I have to answer no the Military would not be better off because if you remember your American History that freedom of religion is why our fore fathers came to this land.

STAY SAFE!!!
Bulldog

Answer 9

Yeah, and the locals would worry less about hiding the insurgents.

Answer 10

Ya..the population may hate us more though. You have to win the citizens of Iraqs mind and heart.