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You mean just like "Mission accomplished" on an aircraft carrier?
The aircraft carrier accomplished its mission.
Thats true, but Bush did declare the end to all major combat operations in Iraq. That was the real stupid thing, not some PR guy thinking it would look cool to have Mission Accomplished in the background.
True, but he couldn't have predicted an insurgency and civil war, now could he?
Major combat operations were over.
That is very debatable given the pre-war condition of Iraq, how it had been held together and the fact that many Iraqis were very pro-Saddam. Not to mention we were attempting to occupy a country of almost 30 million people with only 300,000 troops. And the fact that during the invasion there was a huge amount of Iraqi Army units and equipment left behind. Personally I think its insane to expect to win a war and occupy a country entirely in just over a month and especially with so little fighting that occured during the invasion.
No, probably not as momentus as Saigon. But at least we left with some dignity and didn't leave tens of thousands behind to get slaughtered.Probably because it's only a "momentous" event on paper.
From what I hear we are already there and in about nine other countries "surgically" taking out Al Qaeda cells with our ahem, intelligence and covertness.I am glad we are slowly giving the Iraqis back their country and I am sure the years to come they will continue to be a strong ally in the region. Now we need to wrap up Afghanistan, go to the part of Africa where al-Quaeda is heading and hopefully within the next 3 years everyone can come home and have a party.
Should i be scared or happy? I hope this turns out well. God bless our NATO boys.
Anyone want to wager how long after we leave their country falls apart again?
Anyone want to start a pool on how long it will be, before we go back in, full bore, with a brand new batch of shavetails, to start all over from scratch?
We should have never been there in the first place.
Of course it was. And it's not a surprise, after 1945 the USA have occupied 18 countries in order to "spread democracy", it has worked only with Germany and Japan (two modern countries which had already some experience with democracy) and possibly 2 others.
Never mind that the German experience with democracy failed as miserably as it possibly could have.List these 18 countries.
Oh and if you're counting the Meiji Restoration as "Experience with Democracy," then I guess sham elections granting 0 actual political authority to those elected = experience with Democracy.
Never mind that the German experience with democracy failed as miserably as it possibly could have.
You mean just like "Mission accomplished" on an aircraft carrier?
No, probably not as momentus as Saigon. But at least we left with some dignity and didn't leave tens of thousands behind to get slaughtered.
Both are pretty reasonable.
Not at all. I don't bet that my QB will stay healthy all year, I don't bet that my father's next private protection job is going to go well, and I don't bet that the blood sweat and lives of the men and women of my country is going to go to waste.
Those are things you don't "bet" on, those are things you cross your fingers and hope for the best and at worst you prepare for the possability that they don't. You don't celebrate the possability of them going wrong by turning it into some kind of lottery.
What it means? The last units designed for offensive and peacekeeping operations have withdrawn, the remaining 50,000 are entirely support units with no meaningful offensive or combative capability (at least compared to our combat troops).
50,000 qualifies as 'tens of thousands', right?Except for the 50K+ troops who still remain.
Probably because it's only a "momentous" event on paper.
50,000 qualifies as 'tens of thousands', right?
the remaining 50,000 are entirely support units with no meaningful offensive or combative capability (at least compared to our combat troops).
the remaining 50,000 are entirely support units with no meaningful offensive or combative capability (at least compared to our combat troops).
No, they are just as well-armed as a "combat" brigade. The only difference is that they have more advisory positions and their mission isn't combat.
This is correct in terms of the solders and their equipment, though the units themsevles do not have the armored assets that the combat brigades have.No, they are just as well-armed as a "combat" brigade. The only difference is that they have more advisory positions and their mission isn't combat.
No, they are just as well-armed as a "combat" brigade. The only difference is that they have more advisory positions and their mission isn't combat.
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