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Strategy and Tactics
First, there are the obvious strategic and tactical similarities. American troops are fighting a guerrilla war in Iraq. The terrain is difficult, and the insurgents know it better than we do. The enemy attacks at a time and place of its own choosing, avoiding troop concentrations where U.S. firepower can be brought to bear. Urban warfare has become the norm, with insurgents staying close to U.S. troops, often engaging civilians to support or shield their operations. As a result, the uncertain battleground of Iraq poses enormous challenges for American soldiers, seeking to separate combatants from civilians without alienating most Iraqis. We face in Iraq, like we did in Vietnam, an enemy who refuses to play by our rules and is clearly willing to die for their beliefs.
Before we finished in Vietnam, we had dropped more bombs on Indochina than had been dropped on the remainder of the world in all the wars of that time. The U.S. military continues to believe in the might of firepower. But it also wrestles with the difficult task of establishing an appropriate balance between winning hearts and minds with aid and reconstruction, and using force to root out insurgents. In Iraq, we have moved from “shock and awe” to building schools and hosting soccer games. We’re now back to block-to-block searches of cordoned cities.
In the process, the U.S. military has generally refused to account for civilian casualties in Iraq, in part because they are frequently exponential. As in Vietnam, 600 dead or dying Iraqis too often appear as 600 “insurgents” in army press accounts. The refusal to acknowledge civilian casualties, while meticulously accounting for our own, has another downside. It suggests to Iraqis that American lives are more important than those of the people we supposedly came to liberate.
Iraq’s Tet Offensive?
In this regard, the April 2004 insurrection in Iraq could well have a political impact on the Bush administration similar to the impact of the 1968 Tet offensive on the Johnson administration. The Tet offensive exposed the consistently positive U.S. message in Vietnam to be a lie. In turn, the savage attacks of Iraqi insurgents almost 40 years later dealt a heavy blow to the credibility of the Bush administration. In both cases, events on the ground suggested that the U.S. government, not only was not in control, but didn’t have a plan - and that is the truth.
A parallel can also be drawn to the now discredited domino theory, which suggested that the fall of Vietnam would lead to a Communist takeover of all of Asia. President Bush promised a similar domino effect in the Middle East, in which the overthrow of Saddam Hussein would lead to a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and the flowering of democracy throughout the region.
The failure to install democracy in Iraq will likely lead to a long winter of autocracy in the Middle East before other states even attempt meaningful democratic reforms that will never lead to the installation of democracy in Iraq or in the Middle East. The growing evidence of a large population of Islamic fanatics: Al Qaeda, Moslume Brother, Islamic militants, “fanatics", "militants”, “terrorists” or “outsiders” all over the whole middle East could lead to an Islamic Government. In additon the government of Iran is widespread and growing, and could lead to a religious civil war.
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Writer Profile
NaBeeel
HELLO
I love people with respect to Live and I have a reference for the God. I like positive people with ideas to help and empower others
write political editorials on topics ranging from the years presidential election, the emerging nuclear crisis in North Korea, to cultural and social issues and problems affecting the United States and the world peace.
I'm eager to hear what other people have to say about issues, whether I agree with them or not. In my opinion, that is how one gains knowledge, by taking an issue and studying it and applying different perspectives, and taking those perspectives and using them to make change in the world around you.
I also have other hobbies, non-political related such as listening to music, roller blading/skating, and hanging out with friends.
Being nice and honest is my best policy for my life pursuit, but not at the expense of other people’s happiness. Being wise enough to reach for your hand and touch your heart and sole , therefore not taking chances or wasting time in trying to live your life while it lasts, trying to please others, when the truth is you can’t please everyone at the same time .
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Comments
clarita zarate | May 14th, 2006
I agree with the article. I t is very explicit and to the point.
THANK GOOD WORK BEN HUR | Jun 13th, 2006
One of rhe best, Rating Five Stares
In retrospect, it is clear that we had no idea what we were getting into when we marched into Vietnam, and the same appears true in Iraq.
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