Strategy Session . . . Let's Solve This Thing - Page 3 - U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum Archives

iamwhatiseem · #21 (**permalink**) 08-12-2006, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGG

I don't see the underlying point.

You start with military operations, but what goals do you try to reach? What is the object of the mission?

You cannot make a military intervention before you have your political motives and military goals outlined in detail.

Hmmm...your point seems familiar..like this has happened somewhere...

Pogo · #22 (**permalink**) 08-12-2006, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malvolio

Yeah. I wonder if I would want to live in Israel today ... I doubt it.

The whole situation is a mess ... and what's even worse is that there is no hope for a peaceful solution or at least any sensible solution at all. It's depressing.

There's certainly no hope from within the international status quo; if, however, humanity were to go outside the box, there's no reason that we couldn't develop the necessary conflict resolution skills that are prerequisite to achieving solutions to all of the crises that confront us.

That's my opinion, anyway. Just a matter of people being sufficiently motivated to change how they live their lives and to choose to be empowered rather than disempowered. We have the power to remake this world. The only thing holding us back is our failure to acknowledge it.

Xavier · #23 (**permalink**) 08-12-2006, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malvolio

It's sad news, I know ... but it's just an illusion that you can "put out" that fire so easily. It's just not possible. Just look at Iraq or Afghanistan. Unless the Irsrael-Palestine question is answered peacefully ... which is not likely to happen anytime soon ... there will be no solution.

Unless you want to nuke the whole region, there just is no practicable way. How many million soldiers would you need to send there? We are not only talking about southern Lebanon here, were are talking about the complete Near and Middle East and a lot of other countries in Asia and even Africa.

Really . . . no arrogance intended . . . I could organize a force, lead it into the region and stop the violence . . . smaller the team . . . the more effective. I know its difficult for someone who has not been where I've been and seen what I've seen.

In Iraq and Afghanistan the leadership was SNAFU . . . remains fucked up as normal. I ran a Delt Force like team . . . we accomplished the unimmaginable but I will never serve masters who are fools . . . again.

Of course this OP is academic . . . I am no mercenary . . . if I was, I'd be with Blackwater.

Pogo · #24 (**permalink**) 08-12-2006, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xavier

Really . . . no arrogance intended . . . I could organize a force, lead it into the region and stop the violence . . . smaller the team . . . the more effective. I know its difficult for someone who has not been where I've been and seen what I've seen.

In Iraq and Afghanistan the leadership was SNAFU . . . remains fucked up as normal. I ran a Delt Force like team . . . we accomplished the unimmaginable but I will never serve masters who are fools . . . again.

Of course this OP is academic . . . I am no mercenary . . . if I was, I'd be with Blackwater.

So what exactly would you do that the Israelis haven't already done and how would you do it without causing Israel to be almost universally perceived as Nazis?

Xavier · #25 (**permalink**) 08-12-2006, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pogo

So what exactly would you do that the Israelis haven't already done and how would you do it without causing Israel to be almost universally perceived as Nazis?

The Harsh . . .

Battlefield Assassination of officers on both sides . . . as a demonstration . . . but only AFTER . . . I tried to convince them to CEASE FIRE.

Kids are dying people . . . that's the only reason I served . . . De Opresso Liber To Liberate The Opressed!

Malvolio · #26 (**permalink**) 08-12-2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xavier

Really . . . no arrogance intended . . . I could organize a force, lead it into the region and stop the violence . . . smaller the team . . . the more effective. I know its difficult for someone who has not been where I've been and seen what I've seen.

In Iraq and Afghanistan the leadership was SNAFU . . . remains fucked up as normal. I ran a Delt Force like team . . . we accomplished the unimmaginable but I will never serve masters who are fools . . . again.

Of course this OP is academic . . . I am no mercenary . . . if I was, I'd be with Blackwater.

Well in sand-table exercises ... or in a very small region it may be possible. But the whole region? That's just unthinkable in reality, no matter how efficient your units are. Even if you "pacify" place A, hell brakes loose at place B, and vice versa.

Xavier · #27 (**permalink**) 08-12-2006, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malvolio

Well in sand-table exercises ... or in a very small region it may be possible. But the whole region? That's just unthinkable in reality, no matter how efficient your units are. Even if you "pacify" place A, hell brakes loose at place B, and vice versa.

That's what the battalions of 82nd Airborne are for . . . to maintain a compassionate peace . . . any violence against civilians . . . you get strung up . . . forget the UCMJ.

All armies have heads . . . cut them off . . . armies function not. Privates need sergeants who need officers (mostly) to tell them what to do.

Malvolio · #28 (**permalink**) 08-12-2006, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xavier

That's what the battalions of 82nd Airborne are for . . . to maintain a compassionate peace . . . any violence against civilians . . . you get strung up . . . forget the UCMJ.

All armies have heads . . . cut them off . . . armies function not. Privates need sergeants who need officers (mostly) to tell them what to do.

I don't think it's that easy. Isn't that exactly what the Israelis are doing with Hamas and Hezbollah, what Americans are doing in Iraq, what was tried by the Russians or the Allies in Afghanistan. Look at Iraq, Al Zarqavi is gone ... and the mess is still going on.

Pogo · #29 (**permalink**) 08-12-2006, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xavier

The Harsh . . .

Battlefield Assassination of officers on both sides. . . as a demonstration . . . but only AFTER . . . I tried to convince them to CEASE FIRE.

Kids are dying people . . . that's the only reason I served . . . De Opresso Liber To Liberate The Opressed!

I'm with you 100% on needing to apply pressure to both sides, but absent America's multibillion dollar subsidization, I think Israel would very quickly start to sing a different song. And if we were to lead the way, I think the international community would follow along with respect to the Arab hardliners, who have thrived as a direct result of our existing policy.

Evenhandedness is absolutely essential and cannot be overemphasized, IMO.

Xavier · #30 (**permalink**) 08-12-2006, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pogo

I'm with you 100% on needing to apply pressure to both sides, but absent America's multibillion dollar subsidization, I think Israel would very quickly start to sing a different song. And if we were to lead the way, I think the international community would follow along with respect to the Arab hardliners, who have thrived as a direct result of our existing policy.

Evenhandedness is absolutely essential and cannot be overemphasized, IMO.

I am all for equitable treatment of this fragile situation . . . just fed up with the procrastination. The Hardest of religiously poisoned hearts can be reached . . . you must speak their idiolect of hatred . . . more loudly . . . must convince with tongue . . . never sword unless people are dying. Vis-à-vis with evil . . . killers of kids and people who just want to be free to be themselves . . . you must answer that with the sword.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode