Agreed....they do not.

Yes, but it always comes down to determining the best and most optimal ways of achieving the strategic goals. If a particular "compartment" in the fight requires X, Y, and Z that takes resources (too many resources) away from other compartments, that needs to be considered.

Agreed....it certainly would not have worked in Afghanistan. And, given the goals in Iraq, it won't work there as well. But, there have been smaller situations where it does work and has worked. That's the kinetic side.

See, Gix, Iraq comes down to two extreme options:
1) Pull out ASAP
2) Give it our all until we achieve the goals or the cows come home.

Both have positive and negative repercussions and accurately predicting them is difficult. But one needs to try. In the end, it comes down to optimizing our capabilities across the entire spectrum.....kinetic and non-kinetic both insdie and outside the battle against terrorism.

for once storm we are in total agreance. I thought i saw i knew i saw a pig flying this morning

Kix, you make good points in the most idealistic way and I appreciate that. The problem is that there have been difficulties created on both the diplomatic and military sides that have to be overcome to get even back to level ground. I will keep repeating this over and over now that I heard it and posted it. This administration's spokesman (George Bush) finally admitted mistakes last night ...FINALLY. Is it too late...(?) these mistakes have to be undone before you can start to move forward. It might be (like Dick Durbin said) that Saddam being deposed and the perceived threat of Iraqi WMDs being reduced is the victory we get. As for the continuing problems beyond that, quite frankly, every General that has been through there wanted 200,000 more troops to really get this aftermath done and I am not sure if it too late now. Again, this all does not work in a vacuum and situations don't stay the same (are fluid) and don't just stay stagnate until America decides what we want to do. I now get the distinct felling after last night that this administration fells that they can make the decisions based on thier timelines and that has been woefully wrong fromt he start. They have missed the train and it might be too late.

OINK OINK....

Cat,

Good post....it's hard to say. But, the problems in Iraq may now be beyond a military solution. I don't know if that is the case, but it is certainly a possibility. I'm very concerned that if it is, indeed, beyond a military solution, this Administration will not be able to recognize that fact. I've always felt that their mindset is just too idealistic, black and white, etc.

I refer to them all as "terrorist" if they spead death and mayhem. If this is what it takes to weed them out and rid the region so that the peace can begin between the factions, then do it to it.

Well I would say that in the last 4 years the training has probably adjusted to the type of war they are fighting.

That's a little too simplistic and it paints the wrong picture. And if one doesn't completely understand the situation, then it's hard to come up with viable solutions.

Well, that's obviously the ultimate goal, but careful with your expectations.

Sure, but things don't seem to be getting any better...in fact, just the opposite. We've put ourselves in a very disadvantages spot.