Quote:
Originally posted by Pacifier
I don't think it is so very new, it is the usual guerillia style warfare, and it is always the problem with this style of fighting that the "real" military is not trained for that. They need their enemy to be a "real" opponent, to be available.
what makes the situation in iraq special are the numerous religious groups and the different mentality
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Absolutely agree that it is not new in the least. I do disagree with the belief that the military isn't trained for this. Urban fighting scnearios have been indoctrinated into the military training regimen for a decade or more now. Until it is confronted in real life, of course, that training can't be gauged. It seems they have done a hell of a job thus far through the invasion and occupation of Iraq. There have been countless cases of urban battles during this time.
As far as the different mentality, I disagree. The mentality involved here is classic. A man trying to cement his power by assasinating rivals and building an army so he can seize whatever he can at his earliest opportunity. In this case he uses religion to control/influence his followers. It's not a new mentality at all, it's just that we're confronting it in Iraq and not somewhere else in the world.