Art Of War

[David2004]

Before the United States military invasion of Iraq the CIA, Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State Collin Powell were against the immediate military invasion of Iraq because of the problems we face today. No one questioned whether the United States military could win the military part of the war. The question was could we win peace in Iraq and what was our military exit strategy. Vice President Cheney?s office and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld supported by the high level government Neocons were for the war with Iraq. At the end of the Cold War with the Russians then Secretary of Defense Cheney had the task to down sizing the military budget to make it more efficient. Much of the cost cutting and savings came from outsourcing jobs and services that the private sector could do cheaper. Today Halliburton has profited greatly from these changes in military operations.

Today President Bush claims he miss-calculated the Iraqi resistance we are running into today. Many people today are trying to blame it on faulty government intelligence. When in fact it was the work of a few Neocons that were part of the President?s team that side tracked the facts to the truth as well as the opposing points of view from within the Bush team. Under the Bush Presidency the United States diplomatic core has been put in the backseat with the civilian military Neocons running the show. It is the lack of balance and common sense in the decision making process of our system today that has us going astray.

Over time all things change whether it is for the better or for the worst. The evolution of technology and military weapons has surpassed our mental capacity to be able to control them. With international diplomacy being corrupted by money and greed by those in power. Only with major changes in our political and economic system will things get better. Many of the problems we face today are interconnected to one and another so too are many of the answers. To understand how bad things really are one should read the book SUN TZU?S ART OF WAR.

 

[Avatar4321]

Before the United States military invasion of Iraq the CIA, Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State Collin Powell were against the immediate military invasion of Iraq because of the problems we face today. No one questioned whether the United States military could win the military part of the war. The question was could we win peace in Iraq and what was our military exit strategy. Vice President Cheney?s office and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld supported by the high level government Neocons were for the war with Iraq. At the end of the Cold War with the Russians then Secretary of Defense Cheney had the task to down sizing the military budget to make it more efficient. Much of the cost cutting and savings came from outsourcing jobs and services that the private sector could do cheaper. Today Halliburton has profited greatly from these changes in military operations.

Today President Bush claims he miss-calculated the Iraqi resistance we are running into today. Many people today are trying to blame it on faulty government intelligence. When in fact it was the work of a few Neocons that were part of the President?s team that side tracked the facts to the truth as well as the opposing points of view from within the Bush team. Under the Bush Presidency the United States diplomatic core has been put in the backseat with the civilian military Neocons running the show. It is the lack of balance and common sense in the decision making process of our system today that has us going astray.

Over time all things change whether it is for the better or for the worst. The evolution of technology and military weapons has surpassed our mental capacity to be able to control them. With international diplomacy being corrupted by money and greed by those in power. Only with major changes in our political and economic system will things get better. Many of the problems we face today are interconnected to one and another so too are many of the answers. To understand how bad things really are one should read the book SUN TZU?S ART OF WAR.

Where to start. you NeoComs can be be all over the place sometimes so its hard to know the best place.

Ive read the Art of War. Do you understand it? If you do then you know the basic strategy in waging a war is to attack an enemies supply lines. The war on terror is different then most casual wars. The supply lines for terrorism are the regimes that give them aid and support, and are also the cause of the oppression that that breeds the extremists. For the most parts you find that the terrorists come from nations that are oppressive. it makes it easier to recruit with their propaganda and people have less to lose.

Aghanistan and Iraq were two supply line regimes that funded terrorists and created oppressive conditions. Now they are beginning to stabilize and become free nations. Those are victories in the war on terror. But these are only the beginning. One day we will see free nations all across the middle east.

Diplomacy is good and all, but it wont help much unless it provides freedom in nations ruled by tyrants. There are times when force is the only option. we reached that with Saddam. after 12 years of failed diplomatic pressure and with the advent of 911 we could not risk Saddam remaining in power.

Your talk about exit strategy is ridiculous. As you should know from the art of war, you fight to win. You dont fight to run away the first opportunity you have. We are going to finish the job in Iraq as long as it takes. In fact we will probably have bases in Iraq even after that to continue other battles in the war on terror. It would be ridiculous to pull out our strategic presence in Iraq when we not have a three sided option against Iran and Syria. Again if you understood the Art of War you would realize that its foolish to have an "exit strategy" when we are strategicly situated in iraq.

 

[Zhukov]

Before the United States military invasion of Iraq the....

The complete absence, no the intentional avoidance of even bothering to supply an alternative is why those you support will never achieve power. You need a plan, but all your energies are wasted on blaming.

The evolution of technology and military weapons has surpassed our mental capacity to be able to control them.

Yeah, we should have realized that when all our 'smart' bombs started attacking our own planes......what in god's name are you talking about?

To understand how bad things really are one should read the book SUN TZU?S ART OF WAR.

Read it, what's your point?

 

[Annie]

David2004, it's more complicated than you are used to:

http://eawc.evansville.edu/anthology/artwar.htm

 

[David2004]

Why are Republican conservatives so open to going to war regardless of the financially, politically and human cost to our country. Many of the religious conservative people in the United States are Republicans that are some of the most outspoken people in support of the War on Islamic Terrorists. The civilian sector of the military industrial complex is also in the Republicans corners. From these two conservative groups come the Neocons with their unconditional support of the Greater State of Israel. All three conservative groups favor the use of the military force the big stick theory over diplomacy and the carrot.

By rushing into a war of choice in Iraq not knowing whom our enemy of terrorists are we have under minded the security of the United States as well as the rest of the world. Our military invasion of Iraq has polarized the people and nations of the world deepening the global divide. Deploying many of our State National Guard into Iraq for year long tours has weaken our front line on homeland security with a long term negative effect. Fewer of our experience soldiers are reenlisting and they are not meeting their recruitment goals for new enlistments. The lost of confidence and respect of many of our international allies is taking a toll on our national security financially and politically.

Without the leaders of the United States addressing the internal problems we face as a nation we will never be able to help solve the problems of other nations. Only by correcting our internal at home can we lead by example instead of military force. As the people and nation in the world evolve the rate of change will vary greatly widening the gap in the differences. The polarization of people and nations often lowers the level of tolerance of the other people that are different from them. Fear is often the tool and or weapon the system uses to control the way people see things while hiding the real truth. When in reality people of all nations want the same things for their family, children and community.

 

[Avatar4321]

First, are you going to respond to any of the response to you or or continue to make baseless assertions?

Second, Are you every going to back up your baseless assertions and accusations?

Third, are you going to give us credible reason why we should accept anything youve said?

 

[Merlin1047]

By rushing into a war of choice in Iraq . . .

Whenever I read this statement from one of the anti-Bush crowd, I simply turn you off because your credibility just went down the toilet.

If you consider twelve years and seventeen (?) UN resolutions as a "rush" to war, then I'd hate to see how long it would take take satisfy you that we had taken our time.

 

[dilloduck]

The question was could we win peace in Iraq --

I keep hearing this but sure would like to hear a definition