Breaking and entering
Ralph Peters:
"Iraq has long been known for its archaeological sites, from Ur to Babylon. But the instant archaeology of Saddam's regime lies in the mass graves strewn throughout the country. The men our troops are rounding up filled those graves to the brim. They're also behind the current attacks our soldiers.
"* Nor do the journalists, so many of whom still long for our defeat, explain why our troops employ the tactics shown in the clips. These raids are like police operations against armed-and-dangerous drug cartels. You go in swift and strong to stay alive. You don't knock on the door and call, 'Yoo-hoo? Anybody home? Would you like to shoot first?'
"When you launch a raid of the type we're staging in Baghdad and the Sunni Triangle, you strive for overwhelming physical force and stunning psychological impact. The inhabitants must feel powerless and disoriented - and hopelessly outnumbered.
"This keeps our troops alive by collapsing any thought of resistance. Going in heavy also prevents casualties among those you intend to arrest and their families.
"If you strike with such shocking effect that the target doesn't even think of reaching for a pistol, the results are better for everyone involved. But you cannot go gentle into that good night.
...
"Our toughened tactics have worked. Attacks on our troops are down. Even the Ba'athist attempt at a Christmas 'offensive' was an embarrassing bust. Our enemies sought to kill as many Americans as they could during our most sacred holiday. (Contrast that with our restraint during Ramadan.) But the best they could do was to lob a few mortar shells, fire a couple of rocket-propelled grenades and set off roadside bombs.
"It wasn't an offensive. It was a weak rear-guard action by a dying force."
Ralph Peters:
"Iraq has long been known for its archaeological sites, from Ur to Babylon. But the instant archaeology of Saddam's regime lies in the mass graves strewn throughout the country. The men our troops are rounding up filled those graves to the brim. They're also behind the current attacks our soldiers.
"* Nor do the journalists, so many of whom still long for our defeat, explain why our troops employ the tactics shown in the clips. These raids are like police operations against armed-and-dangerous drug cartels. You go in swift and strong to stay alive. You don't knock on the door and call, 'Yoo-hoo? Anybody home? Would you like to shoot first?'
"When you launch a raid of the type we're staging in Baghdad and the Sunni Triangle, you strive for overwhelming physical force and stunning psychological impact. The inhabitants must feel powerless and disoriented - and hopelessly outnumbered.
"This keeps our troops alive by collapsing any thought of resistance. Going in heavy also prevents casualties among those you intend to arrest and their families.
"If you strike with such shocking effect that the target doesn't even think of reaching for a pistol, the results are better for everyone involved. But you cannot go gentle into that good night.
...
"Our toughened tactics have worked. Attacks on our troops are down. Even the Ba'athist attempt at a Christmas 'offensive' was an embarrassing bust. Our enemies sought to kill as many Americans as they could during our most sacred holiday. (Contrast that with our restraint during Ramadan.) But the best they could do was to lob a few mortar shells, fire a couple of rocket-propelled grenades and set off roadside bombs.
"It wasn't an offensive. It was a weak rear-guard action by a dying force."
Comments
Post a Comment