The Cellar - View Single Post - Iraq by the Numbers

01-14-2007, 07:50 AM

Former Republican President Richard M. Nixon was viewed by many as a domestic crook; but, was regarded as a foreign policy genius in some circles (he opened relations with China). In order to avoid another quagmire like Vietnam, he established 3 criteria that would have to be met before the US would again use military intervention abroad:

1.) The indigenous people must want our help.
2.) They must be willing to fight for themselves.
3.) They must be able to sustain our accomplishments after the US withdraws.

ALL THREE conditions would have to be met before the US would use military intervention to depose another government. Oh, the US could still go to war with another country; but, it would be to conquer nation (i.e. a people) - not just a government - (e.g. Japan during WWII; though, not necessarily using WMD).

This became doctrine and was actually taught in the military. Even when George Sr. blew the opportunity to invade Iraq (its invasion of Kuwait being the best rationale we ever had), he at least restricted our military action to containment of their military rather than trying to depose the government when he was unwilling to conquer their people at that time.

Jorge Dubya, OTOH, abandoned the lessons of Vietnam, for whatever reasons you wish to attribute his actions, and invaded Iraq to just depose the government when:

1.) The indigenous people wanted their government out, they didn't want the US in.
2.) They were willing to fight for themselves.
3.) They could not reasonably be expected to sustain our accomplishments due to sectarianism.

Now Jeorge Dubya, in order to correct a failed strategy, has decided to increase troop strength. He is NOT doing so to conquer a people; thus, right the wrong in his policy. He is doing so to conquer only a city (Baghdad). He expects the new government he has installed to conquer the people, the same people it derives its powers from, while maintaining some semblance of a democracy.

There is no reasonable expectation that Jorge Dubya has implemented anything more than a delaying tactic to get him through his final term. Americans think in terms of "the next 4 years." Middle Easterners think in terms of the next few decades or generations. Dubya is obsolete.

01-14-2007, 07:50 AM	#21
NoBoxes Guest Posts: n/a	Former Republican President Richard M. Nixon was viewed by many as a domestic crook; but, was regarded as a foreign policy genius in some circles (he opened relations with China). In order to avoid another quagmire like Vietnam, he established 3 criteria that would have to be met before the US would again use military intervention abroad: 1.) The indigenous people must want our help. 2.) They must be willing to fight for themselves. 3.) They must be able to sustain our accomplishments after the US withdraws. ALL THREE conditions would have to be met before the US would use military intervention to depose another government. Oh, the US could still go to war with another country; but, it would be to conquer nation (i.e. a people) - not just a government - (e.g. Japan during WWII; though, not necessarily using WMD). This became doctrine and was actually taught in the military. Even when George Sr. blew the opportunity to invade Iraq (its invasion of Kuwait being the best rationale we ever had), he at least restricted our military action to containment of their military rather than trying to depose the government when he was unwilling to conquer their people at that time. Jorge Dubya, OTOH, abandoned the lessons of Vietnam, for whatever reasons you wish to attribute his actions, and invaded Iraq to just depose the government when: 1.) The indigenous people wanted their government out, they didn't want the US in. 2.) They were willing to fight for themselves. 3.) They could not reasonably be expected to sustain our accomplishments due to sectarianism. Now Jeorge Dubya, in order to correct a failed strategy, has decided to increase troop strength. He is NOT doing so to conquer a people; thus, right the wrong in his policy. He is doing so to conquer only a city (Baghdad). He expects the new government he has installed to conquer the people, the same people it derives its powers from, while maintaining some semblance of a democracy. There is no reasonable expectation that Jorge Dubya has implemented anything more than a delaying tactic to get him through his final term. Americans think in terms of "the next 4 years." Middle Easterners think in terms of the next few decades or generations. Dubya is obsolete.