Hearts not Troops...how to win Iraq(over)
The question in Iraq is not whether we are winning or have won the war, rather it is how can we keep the peace. This has been ignored as the last stage of thsi conflict by those on both sides.
IF we needed considerably more troops the commanders would ask and receive them. If we ever could reduce the militant components entering from Iran, Jordan, Syria and Saudia Arabia by show of force we would do so, but we cannot. the Soviet Union, and the entire Eastern Bloc fell despite walls, armorments and troops to sedate thier citizens, it does not work.
To win the Peace in Iraq we must as General Landsdale said of Vietnam win the Hearst and Minds of the Iraqi people. We must continue to build and rebuild the vital infrustructure inside of Iraq. When sabatoged, we rebuild. We continue to spur the process to a democratic structure and continue to support the political and social institutions inside Iraq. When the Iraqi people begin to establish the trust in thier own government, they then will establish the necessary respect for the government and country they have developed. When this time has come, they will not accept the interference by elementst from outside. They who live near or around the foreign insurgents will begin to identify them to the authorities. Until this occurs this is going to be a truth test.
The Iraqi people hold the key to their own future. They must be the keeper of sovereignty, but htis can only occur when they accept the institutions they have created. The US can help this process along with aid, relief and a strong enough force to continue to train and rebuile the people and hte structures.
When ordinary Iraqis accept thier destiny of democracy they will accept ownership in thier nation and target these rogue elements themselves.
IF we needed considerably more troops the commanders would ask and receive them. If we ever could reduce the militant components entering from Iran, Jordan, Syria and Saudia Arabia by show of force we would do so, but we cannot. the Soviet Union, and the entire Eastern Bloc fell despite walls, armorments and troops to sedate thier citizens, it does not work.
To win the Peace in Iraq we must as General Landsdale said of Vietnam win the Hearst and Minds of the Iraqi people. We must continue to build and rebuild the vital infrustructure inside of Iraq. When sabatoged, we rebuild. We continue to spur the process to a democratic structure and continue to support the political and social institutions inside Iraq. When the Iraqi people begin to establish the trust in thier own government, they then will establish the necessary respect for the government and country they have developed. When this time has come, they will not accept the interference by elementst from outside. They who live near or around the foreign insurgents will begin to identify them to the authorities. Until this occurs this is going to be a truth test.
The Iraqi people hold the key to their own future. They must be the keeper of sovereignty, but htis can only occur when they accept the institutions they have created. The US can help this process along with aid, relief and a strong enough force to continue to train and rebuile the people and hte structures.
When ordinary Iraqis accept thier destiny of democracy they will accept ownership in thier nation and target these rogue elements themselves.
posted by Tom Gaitens at 4:36 AM
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