U.S. Strategy on Sunnis Questioned

[Ken White]

While I do not disagree with your point about the IP and the IA, this is a circular argument. Because of the loyalty issue we are creating counter forces to the others and you bet your bottom dollar that is weakening any pretense of a government built on democratic lines. Since building such a government was among the litany of reasons for this effort, proceeding down this tribal path merely demonstrates the futility of the democracy effort in the first place.

Yes Saddam bought off the tribes. His tribe the Tikritis enjoyeed pride of tribal place. He also ruled with a degree of cruelty needed to keep the tribes in line as well as the larger issues of sectarian and ethnic divisions. We will not do that and that always was the number one tool for persuasion in Saddam's tool box.



Ken I would say 2 if not more to even get the ideas across.

Best

Tom

time, there are others but that's the big one. I don't think we have much choice at this time due to our internal politics other than to buy off and play them against one another in the short term even while fully realizing that mitigates against our long term effort. They realize that as well. People aren't being stupid, just sensible.

Reality sometimes intrudes on what is right or desirable, in any war it often does -- as we all know but would like to forget...

[Uboat509]

Reality sometimes intrudes on what is right or desirable, in any war it often does -- as we all know but would like to forget...

I am always shocked and amazed by the number of people I see at all levels who plan based on the way things SHOULD be instead of the way things ARE. And that's not just Iraq. That is everywhere. It just kills me.

SFC W