Topic: Tough New Tactics by U.S. Tighten Grip on Iraq Towns but will it work?

[Daemonknight]

As the guerrilla war against Iraqi insurgents intensifies, American soldiers have begun wrapping entire villages in barbed wire. Men ages 18 to 65 have been ordered to get identification cards. There is only way into the town and one way out.

"This fence is here for your protection," reads the sign posted in front of the barbed-wire fence. "Do not approach or try to cross, or you will be shot."


American soldiers practice of destroying buildings where Iraqi insurgents are suspected of planning or mounting attacks has been used for decades by Israeli soldiers in Gaza and the West Bank. The Israeli Army has also imprisoned the relatives of suspected terrorists, in the hopes of pressing the suspects to surrender. The bombing of the house, about a mile outside the barbed wire, is another tactic that echoes those of the Israeli Army. In Iraq, the Americans have bulldozed, bombed or otherwise rendered useless a number of buildings which they determined were harboring guerrillas

Will fencing in the Iraq people and bombing the Iraq resistances work?

[Dark Flame]

  I doubt it will work.  If anything it will just make matters worse.  Why Bush doesn't just hand the matter over to the UN and leave Iraq I don't know.  Oh, wait, I do.  Could it be because he wants the oil and doesn't care what happens to his people?

[Colonel Tangerine]

Or maybe it's because that without US troops there, Iraq would lose whatever stability it currently has?

[Daemonknight]

Add all that and the next presidential election in 2004

[XfinianX]

Or maybe it's because that without US troops there, Iraq would lose whatever stability it currently has?

oh please  if anything, the presence of U.S troops is destabalising the region even more.

And as we've all seen in the gaza strip, the tactics that isreal use just don't work. Theres no two ways about. The tactics haven't stoped suicide attacks in isreal. Infatc they've probably encouraged a new generation to go an inflict harm upon others.

My thoughts. nearly all US troops need to be removed from iraq and replaced with troops from other countries (preferably countries with a large islamic base where possible, and CERTAINLY not U.K/british commenwealth troops) at the expense of the US government.

The continued presence of the US (and to a lesser extent, the UK troops) is just going to incite more violence. To many in iraq, the western forces which removed saddam are probably seen as invaders. Sure - they knew saddam wasn't great, but they don't want the US in control either - and when you do things like surround towns with razor wire and threaten to shoot anyone who disobeys, then thats what it seems like (lets face it, the interim government is hardly seen as being chosen by the people - which as we all know it wasn't in the first place - and more as a tool of the US).

the whole situation is RIPE for being used as propaghanda by militant extremists (of what ever calling) and i can't see it getting better anytime soon


well, what ever the out come, i just hope the situation pans out better than it is in afghanistan where things are about as stable as a plate of jelly

[Dark Fire]

I like the idea of fences. It will help catch Saddam loyalists within Iraq who leave thier hometowns to attack so that they can't be picked out by the local population.

If there is anything to gain from being the main occupying and administrative force in Iraq it should go the countries that did the fighting and lost the soldiers, not the UN that didn't do a thing to liberate the Iraqis.

[Colonel Tangerine]

Or maybe it's because that without US troops there, Iraq would lose whatever stability it currently has?

oh please  if anything, the presence of U.S troops is destabalising the region even more.

Right, because we all know that without the troops there, all Iraquis would start getting along and hugging each other. They obviously wouldn't have a long protracted civil war, that wouldn't make any sence.

Whether or not you agree with the US being there in the first place(I don't), now that they are there, they have a duty to see it through

[Daemonknight]

The very fact that if US troopers leave: The 3 major religions Shiite Muslims, Sunni Muslims, and Kurds would probably end up having a power struggle/civil war like what is happening in Isreal.  Chances are it will end with divide up Iraq or Saddam return to power if he is still alive.  I agree with Feanor, the US started it, now it has to finish it.

[Kaelis Ra.]

also it would not be a good idea to bring in troops with muslim backgrounds.

as said even when their not armed they won't get along. and what muslim country would send in troops to iraq? would they treat the iraqies better than coalition troops?

[The Bladesinger]

"This fence is here for your protection," reads the sign posted in front of the barbed-wire fence. "Do not approach or try to cross, or you will be shot."

That sounds pretty contradicting methinks.

Also I think that the US troops in Iraq should sod it and go home, let the UN take over and do a proper job of it without being biased since the UN has no real use of the oil.

[HypnoticTurtleSnatcher (formerly Commisar rgbriggsy)]

No it won't, as the natives (for want of a better word) will be pi**ed off with never being allowed to go anywhere. Bush should have declared war on a country that needs sorting out, like some african state, or a certain country across a certain stretch of water. Or a better idea woeld have been never to go to Iraq or even to have elected bush.

[Quentith]

"This fence is here for your protection," reads the sign posted in front of the barbed-wire fence. "Do not approach or try to cross, or you will be shot."

That sounds pretty contradicting methinks.

Also I think that the US troops in Iraq should sod it and go home, let the UN take over and do a proper job of it without being biased since the UN has no real use of the oil.

The UN is run by other countries, the other countries have a use for oil though. And the UN didn't want to go in the first place, why should they be allowed to reap any benefit of something they opposed until it would benefit them, at which point countries like France are all to happy to ask to help rebuild Iraq and get a chance to grab oil.

[Valkor]

Some ppl still take the UN seriously in dealing with military matters? Wow... taking any institution that respects the French opinion in matters of war seriously in dealing with guerrilla fighters is a loon.

[Colonel Tangerine]

Some ppl still take the UN seriously in dealing with military matters? Wow... taking any institution that respects the French opinion in matters of war seriously in dealing with guerrilla fighters is a loon.

Because the US has such an amzing record dealing with exactly that problem

[Colonel Tangerine]

Some ppl still take the UN seriously in dealing with military matters? Wow... taking any institution that respects the French opinion in matters of war seriously in dealing with guerrilla fighters is a loon.

Because the US has such an amzing record dealing with exactly that problem

[Erenthal]

It´s a lousy tactic! As mentioned, the same method has been tried in Israel with the only result being an upswing in terrorism and violence.

I believe it is the Iraqi citizens right to defend themselves against a foreign occupation. The U.S claims that the people attacking the U.S soldiers are all Saddam loyalist. BS. The majority of the attackers are normal citizens sick and tired of living under a BRUTAL occupation. You can compare them to the freedom fighters in occupied France, Denmark and Norway during WW2. Or the Vietcong for that matter.

Furthermore, i feel absolutely no pity for the U.S soldiers killed in Iraq. They have chosen to be there, to participate in an illegal occupation, and if they should get killed they have onyl themselves to blame. On the other hand i feel tremendous sorrow for the countless Iraqi soldiers and citizens who died defending their country.

[Valkor]

Some ppl still take the UN seriously in dealing with military matters? Wow... taking any institution that respects the French opinion in matters of war seriously in dealing with guerrilla fighters is a loon.

Because the US has such an amzing record dealing with exactly that problem

You mean how the US went in Samolia to clean up the UN's amphetamine parrot?

[Colonel Tangerine]

Some ppl still take the UN seriously in dealing with military matters? Wow... taking any institution that respects the French opinion in matters of war seriously in dealing with guerrilla fighters is a loon.

Because the US has such an amzing record dealing with exactly that problem

You mean how the US went in Samolia to clean up the UN's s***?

And got scared after having to deal with a few casualties...this really supports my stance

[Daemonknight]

Bush plans to get 100,000 more troops by 2006.

What the hell? Also those who return from Iraq majority of them for GOOD reasons will not re-list.

Will Bush bring back the Draft? For those who don't know, the draft was pick a random number of month and date of a guy over 18 and if they pick a certain month and date, than every US citizen that is a guy over 18 must go to be recruit center to be prepare for going to war or face going to jail.

[Valkor]

Some ppl still take the UN seriously in dealing with military matters? Wow... taking any institution that respects the French opinion in matters of war seriously in dealing with guerrilla fighters is a loon.

Because the US has such an amzing record dealing with exactly that problem

You mean how the US went in Samolia to clean up the UN's s***?

And got scared after having to deal with a few casualties...this really supports my stance

Because of the Media and politics, yes. If you let the military do things how it sees fit we wouldn't have issues on 3rd world nations, period. So, are you going to question the militaries decisions and thereby make the decision that you want Iraq to fail miserable at the waste of billios, or are you going to support the military and let them finish their job?

However, the US was only in Somolia in the first place cause the UN couldn't do amphetamine parrot, and that black hawk down thing was the first failure after several succesful missions in a row.