How many people should America have sent?
Hey all, I am no expert, but it seems to me that a number between 300,000 and 600,000 would have been much better (1-2 people for every 100 Iraqi's) of which maybe half of should have been ground troops. Please do not flame but explain why I am wrong if you feel that way.
This is an old article that might be of intrest from 2003.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security...agoncontra.htm
The puddling Fedayeen or road to Baghdad
If you read Franks' book, they did develop a way to dealing with the Fedayeen that did not get much notice at the time, but was pretty effective. The intel guys noticed that they would gather around either Baath party headquarters or some other government building between attacks. When the puddling was at it maximum, they would bomb and destroy the gathering. The bombings were usually reported as targeting only the buildings so the significance of the attacks was never apparent to the media or to the Iraqis who continued the pattern even after the reports.
People beat up on Franks for his phase IV plan or lack there of, but it needs to be noted that Gen. Abizaid was put in charge of implementing it and could have changed it. Instead he very strongly recommended the small foot print strategy and still believed in it when he left Centcom.