I don't know.

The Brits have had a good 30 years or so of training here in N.Ireland on civilian patrols. Have made some major fuckups but have learned from them and learned what certain actions will result in.
Think its time some American Generals asked them a few questions on how its done.

Yes, we didnt have any success building Japan or Germany into prosperous nations.

Most americans "know" that saddam was a part of 9/11. Where is your info coming from? How much WMD? What kind of WMD? If there is so much proof, where is all the proof?

Sorry if i was hard to follow. To clarify:

You believe that it is justified for us to attack them first. You don't believe that the 9/11 hijackers were justified in attacking us first. That seems odd to me.


How does that even happen? This sounds like plain homicidal carelessness. Granted, im not in a warzone, but the difference between a camera and an RPG launcher should be evident. WTF is going on over there?

I think that its all too easy for us, here at home, very comfortably sitting in front of our computers, sipping our drinks, and eating our snacks, to pass judgement on the soldiers out in the field.

I'm pretty sure the Rules of Engagement require soldiers to make positive identification before engaging. That's just common sense. If you fail to follow these rules, friendly fire might result. Witness what happened in Afghanistan when allied troops were on the wrong end of several 500lb bombs. Not a pretty sight.

On the other hand, in the heat of combat, and with jittery nerves, its easy to make wrong judgements in the heat of combat. We have the aid of 20/20 hindsight. RPGs are fired from the shoulder. They have a rounded looking tube in front. Cameras are placed on the shoulder. They too have a rounded tube in front. Add in distance, nerves, random attacks, and a potentially hostile crowd. It's very easy to make a mistake in these circumstances.

Some of the comments I read here, make me think that some Americans think that the purpose of intervention in Iraq is solely to "crush" the Iraqis. Kill them all, humiliate them. What do you think is causing all this seething undercurrent of resentment against America in the Middle East? I like the principles on which America was founded, and I generally like Americans. But sometimes, sensitivity is needed.

You are operating in someone else's country. Granted, you are in control for the time being, but eventually you will need to be returning their country back to them. You are caretakers of Iraq. Note the word CARETAKERS. not overlords, not conquerers. Caretakers. The real battle is to win the hearts of the Iraqis, and this will not be achieved by reckless behavior. Kill one Iraqi accidentally, and you've made 50 more enemies. The goodwill of the Iraqi people have been squandered thus far. Where is the recontruction? where are the basic services? where is the protection and security that are the rights of the ordinary men and women? Why are women's rights worse now under the American "occupation" than under Saddam Hussein??

"You are operating in someone else's country. Granted, you are in control for the time being, but eventually you will need to be returning their country back to them. You are caretakers of Iraq. Note the word CARETAKERS. not overlords, not conquerers. Caretakers. The real battle is to win the hearts of the Iraqis, and this will not be achieved by reckless behavior. Kill one Iraqi accidentally, and you've made 50 more enemies. The goodwill of the Iraqi people have been squandered thus far. Where is the recontruction? where are the basic services? where is the protection and security that are the rights of the ordinary men and women? Why are women's rights worse now under the American "occupation" than under Saddam Hussein??
"
Its good to see at least one person has a good grasp of the situation

Man I just love when people bring up Germany and Japan!

Cept they always forget the base that Germany and Japan already had in industry, cept they forget the fact that Germany and Japan were much closer to the U.S., cept that Germany and Japan didn't have neighbors of the same ethnicity willing to fight

Different background, time, location - different story

How about the fact that the Brits are in southern Iraq (which is predominantly shiite and anti-Saddam) while the US forces must deal with the most pro-Saddam regions of the country?

that may be so but the fact still remain that they have to do patrols the same as the US and deal with the same threats

As previously stated, different region, different people, different setiments within the general populus, different level of threat.

Number of countries to which the U.S. sent troops between 1900 and 1993 for the purpose of establishing democracy : 14
Number that were democracies ten years after the withdrawal of U.S. forces : 4
Source: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (Washington)
(http://www.harpers.org/harpers-index...03-08-01&src=1)

i guess it was beginners luck... ;)

Ah yes the grass is always greener on far away hills. The results of being shot is the same no matter where you are and the threat of it still has the same mental results on troops.
IMO the way you deal with people will show in their behaviour towards you

Not sure what you want me to explain? How i came to that conclusion, or why it seems odd?