This guy I met at a party sent this to me today.....

[Sweetpea]

I met him at a dc21.org event... I find it annoying.


What is Next in Iraq?

Military Developments, Military Requirements and Armed
Nation Building
By Anthony H. Cordesman



It now sees likely that the United States will face some form of
low intensity conflict in Iraq for at least 6-12 more months. No one can
predict when or how such fighting will develop or how it will end. It is
clear, however, that several issues badly need to be addressed.

Who Is The Enemy?

There is an ongoing debate among U.S. government and outside
experts over who the enemy is, and the relative strength and role of
Saddam/Ba'ath loyalists, postwar Iraqi nationalists, Iraqi Sunni groups,
outside Arab volunteers, and outside organized Islamic extremists groups
- some of which have at least loose ties to Al Qaida.

The problem is that all of these groups are involved to some
degree, and it is almost impossible to make an accurate count or
assessment of the strength, role, and trends in any one element.
Intelligence analysts are speculating on the basis of their favorite
threat; conspiracy theories abound; and the media seem ready to print or
air virtually any halfway convincing story.

The White House also is clearly trying to put a political spin on
the issue of defining the enemy for both domestic and foreign political
reasons by labeling the opposition as "terrorists" and linking it as
much as possible to Afghanistan, outside Islamic extremists and Al
Qaida. "Terrorism" is a hot button word that condemns the attackers,
ties them to 9/11, avoids any mention of nationalism and the problems in
nation building, avoids the issue of why the United States wasn't better
prepared to deal with the problem right after the war, and presumably
wins more international support. Anti-terrorism is popular; Vietnam,
Lebanon, and Somalia are not.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT


At the end of the day.............They got a MESS on their hands.Idiots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't blame Iraqis for not letting down their guards. Look at the 10 commandments issue here. We can't even secure our own constitution, borders, electricity, freedom of speech........................................

[Don_G]

1. First Date?

I'd be aggreviated to say the least!

[Sweetpea]

3. It wasnt even a date.......I met him at a party.....and definitely

will not go out with him.

[mitchtv]

2. a lot of F----'n nerve

if you ask me-
block sender list candidate

[legin]

4. I thought that was excellent

Sweetpea

[ComerPerro]

5. I thought this was fascinating

And a very good read. What was the problem that people are having with it?

[Sweetpea]

6. because

"Trying to block infiltration is fine and necessary, but no
one who knows Iraq can talk seriously about securing its borders"

Too late.

"Don't make Islam the issue: One of the keys to dealing
with religious extremism is to be extremely careful not to attack Islam
and confuse small elements of extremists with a religion and a culture."

Too late

"Don't create problems with the Shi'ites: The present war
is likely to be lost or won on the basis of whether the Iraqi Shi'ites
join in. "

Way too late

"Use both sticks and carrots in dealing with Iran:"

Part of the axis of evil?

"Don't tolerate quiet ethnic cleansing in the north:"

Can We teach tolerance?

"Giving the Iraqis the Iraq they
want and can build is the goal, not meeting our objectives."

I agree which means getting the hell out.

"Take a hardline on Syria but a focused one:"

We need to take a hardline on Bush and Neocons for creating this mess.

"Don't overreact in terms of force protection and
casualties"

As long as it isnt your son, brother,husband or loved one.

[SoCalDem]

7. D E L E T E

him and the crap he sends you :)

[newyawker99]

8. Sweetpea

Per DU copyright rules
please post only 4
paragraphs from the
news source.

Thank you.


NYer99
DU Moderator