| General David Pe-trae=us has, by suggesting he | | | | counterinsurgency program, as outlined in the |
| can accomplish mission impossible, winning the | | | | Petraeus handbook are political winning legitimacy |
| so-called war in Iraq, which in truth and fact is not | | | | for the government and undermining the claims of |
| a war, but rather an armed occupation. At times | | | | rebels. A counterinsurgency program could best |
| what is going on in Iraq has been confused with | | | | be described as armed social work, according to |
| the war on terror which itself is a misnomer. | | | | Williams and it may be too late for social work. |
| Petraeus, a four star general who has been | | | | The list of generals who have criticized the war |
| tasked with rebuilding Iraq's security forces and | | | | effort thus far, reads like a who's who of the |
| running this latest surge, wrote Counterinsurgency | | | | armed forces. Most have waited until they were |
| 101, the army handbook on fighting insurgencies. | | | | safely retired to comment. Those who have had |
| Given the fact that we are in the middle of a civil | | | | the courage to speak their minds while still in have |
| war in Iraq, as well as a strong insurgency, his | | | | been forced into retirement. Major Gen. Paul Eaton |
| own handbook would suggest our chances of | | | | was the first to speak out. He rightfully blamed |
| succeeding are slim to none. Gen. Petraeus is said | | | | Rumsfeld for complicating the U.S. mission. Marine |
| to have a superior intellect and a knack for | | | | Lt. Gen Gregory Newbold charged Rumsfeld, Paul |
| politics, all of which will be needed to succeed. | | | | Wolfowitz and Douglas Feith with a casualness and |
| Unfortunately, it appears to be a case of too little | | | | swagger that is the special province of those who |
| too late. It is therefore unlikely, his ego and track | | | | have never had to execute these missions or bur |
| record notwithstanding, that he will succeed in | | | | the results. Brig. Gen. James Marks said, "Clearly |
| Iraq, where others have failed. | | | | the presence of more combat forces on the |
| According to journalist Kristian Williams, who | | | | ground would have been needed." Maj. Gen. John |
| recently wrote a feature article on Gen. Petraeus, | | | | Batiste, who likes the others, spoke from practical |
| "Mounting a successful counterinsurgency is a | | | | experience in Iraq said, Rumsfeld did not seek nor |
| dangerous balancing act. Any sign of weakness | | | | did he accept the counsel of field commanders. |
| benefits the insurgents, who will exploit the | | | | Maj. Gen. John Riggs and Maj Gen.Charles J. |
| atmosphere of uncertainty and insecurity in their | | | | Swannack, former field commander of the 82nd |
| effort to discredit the government. But if the | | | | Airborne, supported his statement. Retired Marine |
| military is overbearing and oppressive, the | | | | General Zinni said Rumsfeld should be held |
| insurgents can use public resentment and sincere | | | | responsible for a series of blunder, starting with |
| grievances to gain support and justify violence. It | | | | throwing away 10 years worth of planning, plans |
| is not enough to win battles if the government | | | | that had taken into account what we would face |
| loses the backing of the population in the process." | | | | in an occupation of Iraq. The war to date has |
| The real war in Iraq was won with the dissolution | | | | been so mismanaged it's amazing that we haven't |
| of the Iraqi army and the capture of Saddam. | | | | had a coup, with the generals temporarily taking |
| What has proven far more difficult is the | | | | over the government until such time as the |
| occupation, which has cost our soldiers' lives and | | | | people can find a competent leader. If Gen. |
| horrific injuries, not to mention the civilian | | | | Petraeus were to be honest, which he might well |
| casualties. | | | | be forced to do by September, he would have |
| In the Petraeus handbook there are dos and | | | | told the President, who apparently lives in a |
| don'ts, most of what has occurred in Iraq has | | | | bubble, the war isn't winnable. |
| been in the don't column. From the outset the | | | | This is not to suggest that it wasn't winnable at |
| generals requested a troop level sufficient to | | | | one time, but the strategy was flawed. The ratio |
| accomplish their mission, which wasn't always | | | | of troops to population that Petraeus suggests in |
| clear. Under former Secretary of Offense Donald | | | | his handbook is not being met, even with the |
| Rumsfeld, the requests for more troops were | | | | surge. As we are witnessing daily, we may secure |
| repeatedly denied. In Mosul where Petraeus had | | | | one area, only to see another explode. We do not |
| distinguished himself in 2003, with his | | | | have enough troops to effectively police all of |
| hearts-and-minds approach, Rumsfeld thwarted his | | | | Iraq. Petraeus is entertaining a fool to suggest |
| good work in 2004. Petraeus used the 101st | | | | that he can succeed where others have failed. |
| Airborne to establish and overwhelming presence | | | | Insanity is doing the same thing over and over |
| in the city. This was supported by foot patrols. | | | | again, while expecting a different result. At the |
| Local elections were held and reconstruction | | | | risk of being redundant, the war aspect of the |
| money was liberally dispensed. Under Petraeus, | | | | Iraq debacle has been won. Our troops have done |
| Mosul became one of the few pacified areas in | | | | all that was requested of them. There is no |
| Iraq. Unfortunately, Mr. Rumsfeld, in typical fashion | | | | reason for them to remain. There are upstanding |
| couldn't leave well enough alone. He replaced the | | | | American citizens like Massachusetts Sen. Ted |
| Airborne with a much lighter Stryker force. The | | | | Kennedy on the no fly list, it is seriously doubtful |
| stryker Brigade halted the foot patrols and the | | | | that a rag-tag bunch of terrorist hell-bent on |
| local government efforts. Shortly thereafter Mosul | | | | following us here to blow themselves up, could |
| was in chaos. As Williams puts it, the question | | | | escape scrutiny. Chaos exists in Iraq now, how |
| facing Petraeus now is whether that process can | | | | bad does bad have to get before the President |
| be reversed three years later, on a much larger | | | | acknowledges it? Petraeus, has become his latest |
| scale. Williams notes, "It is as important to meet | | | | acolyte, saying what the leader wants to hear, |
| the population's needs as to hunt down the | | | | instead of what he needs to hear, in so doing, he |
| enemy. We are not winning the hearts and minds | | | | betrays the men and women in uniform who are |
| of the Iraqi people who rightfully see us as an | | | | being asked to carry out a fools mission. |
| occupying force. The ultimate aims of the | | | | Copyright 2007. All rights are reserved. |