Occupation of Iraq

[TurboDewd]

Well the local Iraqis have racked up 1000 kills vs the US army. Nasty business is urban skirmishing. From a strategic perspective Saddam & Co did the right thing, dont fight the US army coz you have no chance, so let your army meld into the landscape and go for a long nasty campaign.

Before the war apparently the UK wanted to keep the Iraqi army intact and just change the management, but the US overruled and disbanded them altogether. I have no idea if the UK idea would have been better, but it sounds interesting. Those same Iraqis are causing a lot of havoc.

The war may be 'officially' over according to George W but in reality its still going in my books...

[tuffxr6]

  TurboDewd said:

The war may be 'officially' over according to George W but in reality its still going in my books...

The war is still defently going on,I have the cleaning contract for every army baracks from Tweed heads to Lismore.Last week a sargent got deployed from Lismore to Iraq and theres plenty more in the baracks keen to go

[3rdTurbo]

  TurboDewd said:

Well the local Iraqis have racked up 1000 kills vs the US army. Nasty business is urban skirmishing. From a strategic perspective Saddam & Co did the right thing, dont fight the US army coz you have no chance, so let your army meld into the landscape and go for a long nasty campaign.

Before the war apparently the UK wanted to keep the Iraqi army intact and just change the management, but the US overruled and disbanded them altogether. I have no idea if the UK idea would have been better, but it sounds interesting. Those same Iraqis are causing a lot of havoc.

The war may be 'officially' over according to George W but in reality its still going in my books...

Interesting thoughts TurboDewd. I like your perspective.

The other theory is that there are fanatical foreigners from the Arab world who are behind a lot of the attacks. Obviously, Anti-American sentiment is rife and there are a lot of Arab sympathisers who wrongly believe that this is an atack on Islam, support for Israel etc. etc.

It does sadden me that a lot of innocent lives have been lost on both sides, but the removal of the brutal Saddam regime was necessary. I hope the possibililty of peace emerging in Iraq increases, but it is definately too early at this stage to know for sure.

I know it is off track, but if most societies do not tolerate the murder of an indivual or the rape of a fellow citizen, why shouldn't a global superpower step in - take a stand against another state who performs these acts on it;s own citizens and say "enough is enough" and take appropriate action? I can be convinced that there are other alternatives prior to any retaliation involving the military.

[pym]

  3rdTurbo said:

  Quote

but the removal of the brutal Saddam regime was necessary.

But let's not forget who supported him during the Iran / Iraq war...The same superpower who now removed his regime.

  Quote

I know it is off track, but if most societies do not tolerate the murder of an indivual or the rape of a fellow citizen, why shouldn't a global superpower step in - take a stand against another state who performs these acts on it;s own citizens and say "enough is enough" and take appropriate action?

Because it is called WAR

  Quote

I can be convinced that there are other alternatives prior to any retaliation involving the military.

Yes, very true, but it needs to be done with tact and diplomacy, something that the superpower does not have.

I agree with TurboDewd that the whole affair is very sad, and I feel for the families / relatives of those who have lost loved ones, regardless of their nationality / religion. The only way that the 'war' will stop is when the occupying forces withdraw and stop meddling in foreign affairs like they do.

[TurboDewd]

pym,

im not really saying its sad (even though it is), Im just observing it without casting any judgements.

The situation in Iraq is quite nasty, I wouldnt want to be a local or a foreign soldier. It would be a shocker if any Aussie troops copped an IED (improvised explosive device), but I get the impression we are rarely near the action - thank gawd! But hey, if one of our own cops an IED or similar fate it will get MAJOR publicity and spark major debate.

[God666]

I work for a company that has 23,000 employees in Iraq providing a whole range of services. We have had 45 employees killed there in the past 8 months.

The war is far from over!

[ducatijb]

Aren't the Aussie troops occupying Baghdad Airport???

[3rdTurbo]

  pym said:

But let's not forget who supported him during the Iran / Iraq war...The same superpower who now removed his regime.

This is correct. This does not change the fact that Saddam caused significant harm to Iraqi citizens.

  pym said:

The only way that the 'war' will stop is when the occupying forces withdraw and stop meddling in foreign affairs like they do.

I disagree. Exiting the country now would be distrastous due to the lack of order and the opportunity for a new Saddam like figure to emerge. We don't want another Taliban and breeding ground for Terrorists.

[pym]

  3rdTurbo said:

  pym said:

But let's not forget who supported him during the Iran / Iraq war...The same superpower who now removed his regime.

This is correct. This does not change the fact that Saddam caused significant harm to Iraqi citizens.

  pym said:

The only way that the 'war' will stop is when the occupying forces withdraw and stop meddling in foreign affairs like they do.

I disagree. Exiting the country now would be distrastous due to the lack of order and the opportunity for a new Saddam like figure to emerge. We don't want another Taliban and breeding ground for Terrorists.

Saddam did cause harm to his citizens. Causing harm to one's citizens is a gray area. How do you determine what is harm ?. Every country is probably guilty of harming it's own citizens, including developed countries like Australia, America, European countries etc, the only difference was that Saddam and his regime were direct about it.

As for outher countries, we harm our own citizens through mis-guided political decisions / funding, whatever you want to call it. Just look at ethnic groups, the state of our hospitals, wherever you go. The only difference, is that this is in-direct.

Look at Israel / Palenstine etc. There are always battles etc and death. Do we see America invading Israel / Palenstine to stop the harm there ?

As for the Taliban, whilst I disagreed with them, they were recognised as effectively stamping out heroin production in Afghanistan. Now that they have gone, heroin production is at an all time high. Is this a good thing ?....just means that heroin is more freely available to kill our kids and loved ones....Now who is harming who ?

One of the primary factors for terrorism is due to interference from external influences which people don't appreciate. Just look at history, both past and present....IRA - Interference from the UK, Middle East - Interference from the US, Chechnya - Interference from Russia. Need I say more ?

[ktford]

I hope this thread survives without mallice toward each other unlike some recent similar ones.

Scotty