February 14, 2006

WHAT, NO EMPIRE?:

U.S. role in Iraq security shifting (Rick Jervis, 2/14/06, USA TODAY)

The U.S. military says 40% of Iraq's combat battalions are effective enough to have taken the lead role in fighting the insurgency, a key measure for determining when U.S. forces can withdraw.

The U.S. military expects to complete the handover of responsibility to nearly all of Iraq's army by the end of the year, meaning Iraq's military will rely on U.S. troops primarily for logistical support and for providing airstrikes and heavy artillery. The main fighting will be conducted by Iraqis.


A crushing blow to the delusions of the neocons and the Left.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 14, 2006 7:33 AM
Comments

Bush and the GOP will need actual troop withdrawals by Sept '06 to help with the November election.

Posted by: AWW at February 14, 2006 8:13 AM

But notice that there are still going to be troops in-country.

Posted by: David Cohen at February 14, 2006 8:25 AM

and/or low casualty rates.

Posted by: AllenS at February 14, 2006 8:26 AM

"Crushing" only for those ignorant enough to think that was a batallion does is "independent operations."

Yup, all independent, except for logistics, air and artillery.

So the light infantry skirmishing will be done by the socii cohorts and the heavy lifting by Imperial legions. What a blow to neocons who analyze our role as the World Government.

There is a danger in allowing politics to transform military doctrine. "Civilian control" and the Clausewitz one-liner do not mean that two plus two equals five. Abandoning the principle of Offensive in favor of casulty avoidance gives up the initiative.

The enemy, both the enemy abroad and the enemy within, expressly strive to replicate Vietnam. So even though light infantry operations are almost entirely carried out by the territorials, the enemies foreign will be using every opportunity to treacherously slay Americans, and the enemies domestic will likewise exploit every Americn casulty.

Posted by: Lou Gots at February 14, 2006 8:46 AM

I've noticed the insurgents being called "rebels" afew times over the past several days. Has anyone else noticed/heard this?

Posted by: Dave W at February 14, 2006 11:28 AM
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