FM3-24 and FM90-8

[SteveMetz]

I just came across this to stress my point:

It's taken from the narrative by Shelby Foote on the US Civil War (Volume I, Page 65):
When a poor Virginian Private was taken prisoner by some Unionist soldiers he was asked, why he was fighting, as he obviously was not rich, owned no cotton farm, had no slaves and had really no need for upholding slavery.
He simply replied: "I am fighting, because you are down here."

So maybe if one would ask some jihadists in the Middle East today why they are fighting against the US troops there, they may simply reply: "We are fighting, because you are over here."

bruz

That's a useful analogy. Since U.S. military occupation failed to turn Virginia into a stable democracy, why do we think it can work in Iraq?

[Tom Odom]

That's a useful analogy. Since U.S. military occupation failed to turn Virginia into a stable democracy,

Don't you mean aggression?

Tom

[Steve Blair]

Don't you mean aggression?

Tom

Bah. They're all damned Easterners anyhow.....