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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Why it's different in Basra |
| 2004-10-24 |
| After spending time with the American First Cavalry in Baghdad and the British army in Basra, Hugh Sykes gives his views on how their different approaches have influenced the attitudes of local people towards the military. I have been in Iraq for a fortnight but I have not really been in Iraq at all. Wow. A whole 2 weeks. In the bad Iraq, the occupied Iraq. I have been in occupied Iraq, in the back of a US Army Humvee with men armed with pistols, rifles, machine guns and shot guns. They are good for "bad guys who get too close". Humvees: bad. And you would like them to be armed with... what? Spitballs? Top Cover for the Humvee stands with his head and shoulders out of the roof, and is mostly a traffic cop as Humvee Man forces his way through the Baghdad traffic, sounding his horn and shouting at other drivers at roundabouts and intersections. "Hey! Get out of the Way! You! Stop!" Ah, road rage. Yep, that'll do it. Iraqi drivers stop, and swerve, and pull over to the side, and the Humvee rushes on. Gee, just like other official biz vehicles: ambulances, fire trucks, limos with rock stars... This is all justified, they say, because of the acute danger of VBIEDs - Vehicle-Born Improvised Explosive Devices. That is, car bombs. They do tend to ruin your whole day... But I believe this is a vicious circle of their own making, that much of the hatred of the Americans that is now violently expressed was provoked by their ignorant disrespect of decent people. The poor dumb unnuanced Yanks. Rightee-oh. And I think you're so full of shit your eyes are brown. But, puhleeze Mr Sensitivity and PC, don't let that stop you. ...more... There is something to be said for the hearts and minds game. With some societies, where there is sufficient overlap in values and customary behavior, courtesy pays as each side can place themselves in the other's shoes. With others, it is irrelevant. This is one of those cases. The behavior of US forces described by our oh-so-intrepid reporter is precisely how authority behaves in normal Arab society. The touchy-feely thing gets you a smile or two, but when the heat is on, the same people will not hesitate to gun you down. Those smiles do not convey respect or that they identify with you and are thus less likely to oppose you. It's just not true of Arab society. He asserts that the low-key British approach is sooo much better - and utterly ignores the key reason: the populations each force is dealing with. Down south, the Shi'a are damned happy to be rid of Saddam, are happy to march around being Shi'a without fear of reprisal, and have been as unruly, at times, as in Baghdad. Don't forget how many Shi'a leaders have been blown to shit in the peaceful south. And our cousins have even been willing to deal with corrupt tribal leaders - for the sake of peaceful expediency - and been reversed. Not all roses and kisses after all. In the Baghdad / Triangle area, the Sunnis feel somewhat differently - they are the big losers in the invasion and some feel they should actively oppose us. Quite a difference, Mr Journalist. One might even say they drew the easier assignment, if one was being as uncharitable as this journalistic military genius. And, of course, right on cue he doesn't miss the opportunity to contribute to the "no plan to win the peace" vein, now becoming the primary Iraq meme... and beheading fears, a close second. Someday, when the screaming and meming stops, proper attention will be paid to the fact that Turkey's betrayal was the pivotal point - for the invasion, sure, - but even moreso regards the "post-war" situation. With the 4th ID in theater 2 things would have changed - massively. First, there would've been a serious thumping of the Sunni Triangle - making the war real to precisely the people who opposed the invasion and respect only raw power - which they would've gotten their fill of with 4th ID forces romping and stomping all resistance. As it is, they never paid any price for their resistance and terror activities / support. Second, a great deal less war materiel would be available to attack troops and civilians with, as well - 4th ID would've swept for stockpiles - and the 3rd ID and 1st MEF would've had more freedom to do the same in the Baghdad region and the cities engaged enroute. Third, there would've been a helluvalot more boots on the ground during the critical time - the first 9-12 months - ready and in position to stop or intercept attacks and supplies, retaliate in strength, and make certain terror did not go unpunished. Because of the delay, I guess, of the 4th ID sailing all over hell to get in-theater, MilCmd completely altered the post-war manning schedule - making incorrect (perhaps stupid) assumptions about pacification and the Triangle. There are not words strong enough, IMHO, to convey my anger - Turkey is fully culpable for much of the resulting cost in personnel since major opns ended. And here we are, long long afterwards, now contemplating, finally, doing what should've occured during the first month of the war. |
| Posted by:.com |
| #5 Golly. I think I've heard this tune before. Americans dumb clod problem makers. Any European, sophisticated elegant problem solver. Got it. GET A NEW FUCKING SONG. |
| Posted by: Crikey 2004-10-24 12:22:33 PM |
| #4 TW - The US has been a better friend of Turkey than France ever was - they stabbed us in the back for the empty promises of their french whore - we certainly can and should lay blame there |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-10-24 9:29:39 AM |
| #3 .com, you can't lay this all on Turkey. Remember, they were responding to Chiraq's message, that if they let the Yanks through, their remote chance to join the EU -- the national ambition for a generation -- would become precisely zero. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2004-10-24 9:24:49 AM |
| #2 Typical BBC bile. The truth is the UK troops have been in the largely hetrogenous south. There have been few or no IEDs in the south. 2 weeks and this guy is an expert. FOAD. Just more to make me disrespect the UK press. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-10-24 3:35:46 AM |
| #1 Cheers mate! |
| Posted by: Graise Hupomomp5338 2004-10-24 3:17:51 AM |