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| Quote of the Day from James Lileks |
| 2003-04-07 |
| The Americans will never fight a ground war! But there they are, on the ground, more methodical and efficient than one could have ever imagined, and they are losing one soldier for every 1000 Iraqis they kill. The combination of training, technology, dedication and lethality is worse than the Arab world could have possibly imagined - and the soldiers' primary motivation is getting the job done well so everyone can go home. Imagine what they would do if they were truly, deeply pissed. The lesson of Mogadishu: don’t draw any lessons from Mogadishu. Read the whole thing, but you knew that. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #9 ...and a patient nation. Our money, our time, their blood. Works for me. |
| Posted by: Nick 2003-04-07 19:42:10 |
| #8 Its an old equation, one I've often stated (naming it after the guy I heard it from: WCollier): Collier's Law of War: You pay for war in blood, time and money. The more of one of those you use, the less you need of the other two. Fortunately for the US, we are a rich nation. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2003-04-07 16:11:55 |
| #7 Re: 1:1000 ratios, take out the friendly fire numbers and it looks even better. Or as one local talk show caller put it, one has-been 80's rock band killed more Americans than the Iraqi military has been able to, so far. |
| Posted by: Mark IV 2003-04-07 15:08:28 |
| #6 After seeing reports and images of our fighting troops in theatre, I am immensely proud of our country at the great equipment, tremendous coordination, planning, logistics, technology, and totally professional dedication of the troops. We spend fortunes and get the best brains to develop equipment and systems that give our forces the edge and to protect their lives so we can minimize casualties. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-04-07 14:06:45 |
| #5 before 9/11 Bush was for a foreign policy of "humility", was against "nation-building", was for "smart sanctions" and generally was in bed with the Saudis. You seem to be getting Dubya mixed up with McCain. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-04-07 14:00:30 |
| #4 before 9/11 and after: Bush leads, Clinton polls |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-04-07 13:12:28 |
| #3 In all fairness to Clinton, this was a changed county after 9/11. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-04-07 13:08:50 |
| #2 I am amazed how many reporters became experts on the military from watching "Blackhawk Down". It seems like... all of them. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-04-07 12:20:45 |
| #1 The 1 to 1000 ratio is still too close as far as I'm concerned. Each of our guys has proven to be worth at least ten times that (except the the grenade tossing shmuck in the 101st airborne, natch) Another lesson from Mogadishu: Elect a leadership which draws it's support and direction from a backbone, and doesn't run away at the first sign of adversity. |
| Posted by: Ken 2003-04-07 11:55:12 |