[whataretheysaying] Mary Madigan: Better late than never

[Email subscription to blog articles]

Posted by Mary Madigan:
Better late than never
http://whataretheysaying.powerblogs.com/posts/1167843734.shtml


   Fred Gedrich, a foreign policy and national security analyst. and Maj.
   Gen. Paul E. Vallely suggest that we should fight [1]asymetric warfare
   asymetrically:

     To prevail, the United States has to transition from a conventional
     to an unconventional war footing and make the enemy pay a heavy
     price for its despicable tactics. In Iraq and elsewhere,
     traditional troops, weapons and tactics are less useful than tools
     of influence, covert operations and intelligence brought to the
     battlefield by special operators working harmoniously with
     indigenous forces and local populations. The prime objective is to
     create a climate of fear within enemy ranks that breaks its will to
     continue the armed insurrection against the freely elected Iraqi
     government.

     Special Operations Forces (Rangers, Seals, Delta Force and other
     special units) leaders and troops are uniquely qualified for this
     mission. Special operators played prominent and successful roles in
     removing Afghanistan's Taliban regime from power and disrupting al
     Qaeda's terror base. In Iraq, they have spent most of their time
     searching for the infamous "deck of cards," the elusive WMD
     arsenal, and high-value insurgents and terrorists.

     Joint special operators (from all military branches) are also
     trained in local cultures and languages, making it easier for them
     to embed in local populations and Iraqi security forces and collect
     information which in turn may be used to "hunt and kill" hostile
     forces.

   They say "Since the fall of Baghdad, the United States has had the
   will to win but not the right strategy". It's about time someone said
   it.

   [link thanks to [2]Dave Price at Dean's World]

References

   1. http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20061227-092444-4051r.htm
   2. http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1167761519.shtml