Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t Bush II’s celebrated military surge in Iraq roughly approximate the higher troop strength recommended by General Eric Shinseki in the first place? Doesn’t this lead in the direction of validating his assertions about troop strength? It seems to me that the merit of greater troop strength was evident several thousand years ago to a great many iron-age war lords.
I have heard little or no discussion of this point by the main stream show ponies yammering on the tube.
Lamentations on Chemistry 
Or that lots of troops died unnecessarily in Iraq because we had to be dishonest to get there.
But I’m a liberal, and my understanding of what “support the troops” means may be flawed.
after first line: “and so couldn’t actually place enough troops in theater to achieve what we wanted to do.”
I hate (and have) IE.
What is the goal of the military exercise, hearts and minds? Where is the battle front? Is acreage secured today refought tomorrow? Hello Vietnam! How well did that work out?
A conventional combatant must win a war. A guerrilla need merely not lose it. Hugely reproductive Muslim states plus polygamy suggest external military failure until ~80% of local males are killed. Bush the Lesser’s war has barely tarnished the “enemy’s” population increase. Frank Herbert’s Dune had a lot to say about fighting desert Muslims.
Yes Unc, an Orientalist work of fiction is the way out of this mess.
There is only one real way not to lose a war of attrition: Don’t fight one- start one. Look at how the US Navy defeated the Barbary States: They took advantage of local rivalries and used the absence of the nation-state dynamic. This strategy is in the colonialist playbook. Unfortunately it doesn’t work here because we’re seeing a steady cohesion among the Shi’aa because we screwed the pooch and they know we can’t stay because we have more immediate problems. Iran outplayed us.
You guys are clueless. The objective is to use weapons so more weapons may later be purchased. These defense companies led by Cheney Inc are nothing more than cancerous moles on our society. They own the USA. If they want a war, they get one. Obama and friends will be in no more control of these monsters than Bush. You guys chatter as if anything you say matters. You are as relevant to these elephants as mites on a monkeys ass.
The entire might of Galactic Empire did not dent Arrakis’ faithful. Take a page from Heretics of Dune, the entire surface of the planet Arrakis being slagged into oblivion by the Honored Matres,
Set an airburst yield for the hypocenter and shout “Νενικήκαμεν” (pronounced “Nenikékamen”). If McCain and Moose Jewel are on the short end of a historic electoral debacle, do you expect Washington will be $trillion porking Wall Street on Wednesday and thereafter? Think of mileage reimbursements to be saved by bringing the war home.
Ya know, ol’ Dan’l Boon is right. I’m sure pert’ near nobody pays attention to these here blogs. But, I jus’ gotta get my thoughts down somewheres.
@ Uncle Al,
I can read Greek, thanks, I can also read Arabic. The site you mention? Strategically unimportant- middle o’ the ‘effin desert. Also: Been destroyed before in the past.
Kindly reevaluate your level of comfort with the subject matter.