OpinionBug.com

By Lieutenant Colonel Allen B. West

You asked about what are we doing right in Iraq? Well first of all we are there doing something and that is the most important thing. We have been at war with terrorists since the Beirut barracks was bombed back in 1983 and we have shirked a responsibility to meet them head on. We had the opportunity in Somalia but we backed down, “Black Hawk Down” because of the loss of life of 18 Rangers. It is rather “Pavlovian” in how you deal with the terrorist threat, bad behavior cannot be rewarded.

So, now that brings us to Iraq. It is of the highest necessity that we as a Nation, the West, take on the Dictatorial Monarchies of the Middle East. For so long they have subjugated and tortured their own people with the reason behind the misery of the people, the Great Satan, United States. They have fomented this sense of hatred and resentment in the region to all that is Western and non-Islamic truly enhancing the new enemy of the 21st century, international terrorism. We have gone into a terrible fascist regime and country Iraq and dethroned a belligerent and threatening leader, Saddam Hussein.

Now, that puts others on alert and truly offers a sense of alarm. We, the US, have taken a step to make a better way for Muslims right in their backyard. It is a threat and an enlightenment as well. We must stay the course in Iraq to see these efforts come to fruition. What are we truly doing right in Iraq, shedding our blood and resources in an effort to usher in unknown freedoms and privileges to the cradle of civilization and one of the most resource rich Countries in the world. We are turning a spotlight on Middle Eastern leadership inadequacies, they do not like it and be damned if they want to see us, US, succeed.

However, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, what we are doing wrong in Iraq is negotiating with terrorists and thugs that see that as a sense of weakness. That is the first and foremost issue right now. Also, strategically we have made some blunders. I am a student of Political Science and History (Bachelors and two Masters degrees) and anytime you are to undertake a war, one should study history for precedents and parallels. First, we did not have enough troops on the ground to adequately secure the Country. What we did was scatter the bugs and now they are returning. I was a part of the 4th Infantry Division who was to spearhead an attack from the North out of Turkey. However, diplomatic talks broke down and we did not secure the rights to such and we launched an attack into Iraq without having an offensive stance.

Now, speaking of strategy, we the US, kinda lost our strategic perspective once the Soviet Union collapsed. We should have been looking at what are the potential “hot spots” or as Samuel Huntington stated, “Fault lines for new Conflict”. We should have transformed our military out of a Cold War mentality and structure back sometime ago into a faster and yet lethal arm that could project power anywhere without the need of diplomatic counsel, better known as begging.

Back to Iraq, not having the forces postured to deal with contingencies is a huge issue. You win what? Here you are in Baghdad and oops, they are not reacting as we thought nor are prepared to handle. However, hats off to the US Soldiers and Marines on the ground, they have always made it happen since we first called upon them to fight and defend this Nation.

Should we have disbanded the Iraqi Army, No! There should have been some sort of plan to begin an incorporation of those who had signed a denouncement agreement. In the Middle East, money talks, and military aged men out of work with AK-47s, RPGs, and machine guns is not a good thing, caused Rebellions in America (Daniel Shays, after War of Independence and Nathaniel Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia). Incorporating these Men into our Force would have brought about a sense of partnership early on and began a separation from the Baathist regime. Also, any student of history would tell you to research successful and unsuccessful occupations. There, I think we would have seen that the first order of business, immediate phase after combat operations, is to resolve the post-combat operations security. That requires sometimes more troops than one has had in the actual combat operations (stability and support mission) as well as a different mix, more Military Police and ground combat operators. In this case the transition must be one of implementing Martial Law under military jurisdiction.

In my assessment, we were too hasty in bringing in a civilian administration trying to resolve infrastructure issues before we had resolved the security issue. That is still a military mission, refer to Germany and Japan as a precedent, I think those were the last times that this Country occupied another Sovereign Nation after a conflict. I would also venture to say that these occupations were successful.

This brings me to my final point, why were we so hasty? Well, our media has not been the most mature actors in this conflict. If Josef Goebbels were to return he would commend our media in the way they have acted. Truly our news agencies have become a de facto propaganda wing for the terrorists and promoting their efforts while retarding our own, borderline treasonous in some cases. I know, they have protection under first amendments but they also have a moral obligation as citizens of this country whilst American troops lives hang in the balance. Constant pressure upon the administration has put them into a react mode and taken them out of a logical prosecution of this effort. What we should have presented was a strategic by phase plan that listed certain conditions to be met, measures of effectiveness, before we move onto the next phase. Never lay out a plan by time but rather, conditions based, much easier to defend and measure, as well as justify. Lack of this strategic plan worked adversely against this Administration in the eyes of the media.

My final point as to what was not done, what was the terminal action that evidenced someone winning? Was there a treaty signed in a Palace (Versailles)? Was there a delegation brought aboard an Aircraft Carrier (USS Missouri in Tokyo)? Were there Generals and Leaders sat down to prescribe terms of surrender (Safwan Airfield, First Gulf War, I know because I was there)? There was never a terminal action that defined the end of this thing called a War in Iraq. When we recovered Saddam Hussein from his “villa” we should have demanded the former leader to sign a statement of capitulation and renounce his claims as leader of Iraq. Since we did not, what was his position at his trial? Lest I say anymore.

Now, are we seeing chaos in Iraq, show me a war that was not chaotic! Iraq is especially unique in that you are dealing with countless groups who have not cared for each other and now you seek to unify. The departure of Saddam left a power vacuum that others, primarily Shiites are looking to fill, with support from others. As well, it is now “Happy Hunting Grounds” for terrorists wishing to kill Americans (and get big time media “props” from our news agencies) in order to kill our spirit and resolve. If we had done as I previously stated, instituted martial law under military administration and immediate incorporation of the Iraqi Army we could potentially see something different.

Now, there is another aspect, you do not negotiate and parlay with terrorists and thugs. Speaking from experience in dealing with local Sheiks and populace, it is a culture there that only understands strength and might, anything else is a perceived weakness. Chaos comes from not dealing tough with a problem and that is not dropping bombs but rather going at it “old school” urban warfare, troops on the ground, man to man, showing who is tougher holding of greater resolve. We must also stop being a victim of our own benevolence! If you hide in a Mosque, well, we are coming to get you out. What logic is the argument, “They will get mad at us”. I submit that if they are shooting at you in the first place, they are already mad.

How do we get out of Iraq? Let us not discuss that, we are the conditions for a better and safer Iraq and truly Middle East. Look, if my memory serves me correctly, we signed an armistice with North Korea in 1953, technically still in hostilities, still there for 51 years. We still have troops in Germany, Japan, and other areas. It is not about placing a time limit on an operation. It is about setting the conditions for success and meeting them. We face an enemy that has the resolve to go the long run with this, ask Xerxes, Darius, the Ottoman Empire leaders, and now the present day Islamic extremists seeking to subjugate the world to their idealistic views of Islam and Muslim rule. Truly we fight against a New World Man with an Old World view. How do we get out of Iraq, but not asking that question and focusing upon making it better each day and letting the world know, especially the Middle East Dictatorial Monarchs and terrorists, we will defeat you and bury you wherever you seek to reside.

The people of Iraq are the possessors of a proud and intelligent culture who wish to be restored to the greatness that they once achieved, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. That is within their reach and one day as Germany, Japan, and Italy, with whom we fought, we will see them as allies in diplomacy, information systems exchange, military ventures, and economic development. After the War of 1812 how many Americans would have thought that the British would be our staunchest allies, after all they did burn our Capitol.

In closing, it all comes to this, character, honor, resolve, and pride as a Nation. No war ever seems worth it when you evaluate loss of American life. But take a look around the world and see where Americans are buried and therefore fertilizing the grounds for Freedom. I never wanted to see one of my Men shed their blood however, I wanted to see Iraq reclaim its prominence in the Middle East. It can be done but as Carl von Clausewitz stated, “The successful prosecution of a War requires something unique called the Paradoxical Trinity which is the will of the Soldier, the People, and the Government”.