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2007-07-13 Iraq
Hugh Hewett interviews Michael Yon: Surge working
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Posted by trailing wife 2007-07-13 04:38|| || Front Page|| [7 views ]  Top
 File under: Iraqi Insurgency 

#1 Assuming what M Yon and others says is correct, one of the keys to victory is, strangely, defeat.

That is, if al Q had not successfully established itself in large parts of the country for a substantial period of time. During this time al Q tortured tribal chiefs, stole from businesses, killed off rival clerics, which offset the largely pro alQ media.


Posted by mhw 2007-07-13 08:01|| http://hypocrisy-incorporated.blogspot.com/]">[http://hypocrisy-incorporated.blogspot.com/]  2007-07-13 08:01|| Front Page Top

#2 I would like to think that some ingenious individual figured out early on that there were parts of the country that were just so insurgent and al-Qaeda friendly, that they were a lost cause--as such.

So how do you "turn" such people to our side?

As the saying goes, when the gods really want to stick it to someone who annoys them, they grant them their wish. But I haven't seen anyone speculate that we did this intentionally.

That would be, a strategy of allowing, or even encouraging al-Qaeda to occupy and concentrate in a hostile town, to give the locals a feel for what life under such murderous monsters would be like. And then, after living under King Stork, see how willing they are to instead live under King Log, to reference the Aesop fable.

It would go hand in hand with the strategy of encouraging a diffuse, invisible, and unconventional enemy to concentrate, so that they can be met head on and "cleanly" defeated, such as in Fallujah.

In both cases, these would seem to be excellent examples of non-linear strategy in an unconventional war.
Posted by Anonymoose 2007-07-13 10:51||   2007-07-13 10:51|| Front Page Top

#3 Another way to put it, some people have to hit rock bottom before they can accept they have a problem.
Posted by rjschwarz 2007-07-13 11:04||   2007-07-13 11:04|| Front Page Top

#4 So Jimmy Carter was a super genius allowing Khomenei to seize power? Still waiting for the counter revolution.
Posted by ed 2007-07-13 11:07||   2007-07-13 11:07|| Front Page Top

#5 Now we just need to defeat the dhimocrats....
Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader  2007-07-13 11:59||   2007-07-13 11:59|| Front Page Top

#6 So Jimmy Carter was a super genius allowing Khomenei to seize power?

Yes, it was part of the plan.
Posted by Carl Roves Daddy 2007-07-13 17:04||   2007-07-13 17:04|| Front Page Top

#7 Harry Reid is right in a way. Until Congress says the right thing the terrorists are assured of victory - as we mop the floor with them. Only Congress can hand victory to our enemies. Tet Part Deux - Return of the Stupid and Disloyal.
Posted by Super Hose 2007-07-13 23:25||   2007-07-13 23:25|| Front Page Top

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