Quote:
Originally posted by Looger@Dec 2 2004, 02:55 PM
also included in the number of available troops, some of saddam's finest:
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsess...storyID=6933590
the enemy of my enemy is my friend, or so the saying goes, but i wonder aboot the long-term implications of this - replacing one regime using these guys with another (foreign) regime using these exact same guys.
if i was an iraqi i would be less than amused.
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Most observors concede the two worst mistakes of Paul Bremer were disbanding the Iraqi Army after the war and secondly, purging all levels of government of Baathists.
The American officer who said this couldn't be more spot on:
"If I could have an Iraqi security force guy who's honest, reliable and dependable, it's worth five Marines," he added.
In the end, Iraqi's have to take ownership of the situation and do the fighting. That's what has to happen or its a lost cause before it starts. The insurgents know that as well, which is why they're targeting Iraqi's who simply want to teach school or be police officers.
Some might remember the controversy that dogged General Patton in post-War Germany when he wanted to use ex-Nazi's in their former administrative positions. A dedicated Nazi, the leading air ace of WWII, imprisoned in Russia, would eventually end up as head of the post-war Luftwaffe.
Meanwhile, a top Sunni politician becomes the first to say the election must go forward.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6628288/
Cowperson