Quote:
Originally Posted by FOG
Shaun,
I believe you’re attempting to be funny while addressing me when using the capital of France. Needs work.
Actually I have the DoD numbers and know the folks who put them together and have discussed the process/assumptions with him. I have done a bit more work than looking up numbers. I don’t go by what feels right, what is the task and what is required in various areas, etc. then add them up.
As you purport to be using your 300k that implies that you derived the number. That is why I am looking to expand my education as I am unaware of a scenario where that would be a useful number.
As various numbers get thrown around that erroneously interchange in theater and in country numbers I am attempting to see another possible solution.
S/F, FOG
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OK, first let me say that it seems like I could learn a thing or two from you. good, serious posts which are rare.
My 300K plan is simple and could use a lot more detail but it's basically the go big or go home approach.
add 300K troops to Iraq. I would prefer we get this number via a Draft. No one owns this war except for the Military
You can move ratio's around, but I want to seal the borders. We hear the DoS and DoD whine way too much about Iran, Syria sending in trained terrorists, bombs, munitions, etc. "destabilizing" Iraq. 100K troops on the border with Iran with 24/7 helicopter support nullifies outward influence from that direction which solves many problems. Same with Syria and other neighbors. I honestly don't understand why we as country have such a hard time sealing borders, whether our own, or Iraq. It's as though we roll out the red carpet to our enemies saying "c'mon in. Bring fresh recruits, the latest in IED technology, supplies and morale." When you cut off the lineline to the outside world, there's only so much an existing internal fighting force can do for so long.
With borders sealed, I want the country turned upside down rooting out insurgents, terrorists, civil war leadership. Anyone in government supporting a civil war is ousted. When I say I want the country turned upside down, I mean it. A clean sweep that may be brutal at times, but warranted. We'll lose some hearts and minds, but they'll be back when security is established. Put another way, there's a cancer in Iraq and we're treating it with band-aids. Sometimes you have cut the thing out. Other times you have to cut the limb off.
While all this is going on and violence is slowing down, it would be great if basic services like electricity and water were rebuilt, worked, and then protected. Want to win hearts and minds? Nothing like running water, electricity, trash removal, etc. to normalize people's lives. How anyone can imagine people won't be radicalized when even basic human needs are not provided is beyond me.
Some diplomacy might be in order too.
It's a simple plan. I could go on, but I've got to get some work done today. If you want to poke holes in it or plug in details/variances/better options, please do.
The one thing I know is we have 4 years of failure under our belt trying to do this war on the cheap. If we want to win, we've got to pony up.