22-03-2003 21:51									#91
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quote: Originally posted by Urban Ranger With what? The US is having a bit of a problem with Iraq now, and that's with nice staging areas and bases in the region.

What is "a bit of a problem?" We had to stop to sleep and refuel?

We own the skies - the Iraqi air forces aren't even attempting to contest us. We own the sea, even the little sliver the Iraqis had.

Our forces are moving virtually unopposed everywhere, cutting off and isolating small pockets of (possible) resistance.

The war part was always going to be easy. The peace part, we'll have to see what happens, but to say the US has any problems now is just laughable.

	22-03-2003 22:04									#92
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quote: Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat What is "a bit of a problem?" We had to stop to sleep and refuel? We own the skies - the Iraqi air forces aren't even attempting to contest us. We own the sea, even the little sliver the Iraqis had. Our forces are moving virtually unopposed everywhere, cutting off and isolating small pockets of (possible) resistance. The war part was always going to be easy. The peace part, we'll have to see what happens, but to say the US has any problems now is just laughable.

But you'll be tied down for awhile during the reconstruction phase. Your going to need a fair amount of troops in there just to prevent the Kurds and Shiites from getting thier pound of flesh from the Sunnis. It would be sheer folly to pull out and wage another war before this one has been fully completed.

	22-03-2003 22:12									#93
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That's the main reason I said Bushie and the chickenhawks should have waited until they raised six more army divisions.

One thing about the Iraqi army surrendering in large chunks, though, is that the US will want to rely as much as possible on the non-political part of that army - with US training and oversight, to act as security forces. Occupation is going to be a problem, but UR seemed to imply that there were problems now, while still in the warfighting phase.

I think the whole "who's next" question would be insane, if it wasn't for the current administration. The DPRK may force a who's next on us, but everyone else is probably content to just paw the ground and whistle "Dixie" for a while, hoping they escape the attentions of Bush & Co.

	22-03-2003 22:21									#94
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quote: Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat I think the whole "who's next" question would be insane, if it wasn't for the current administration.

It will be interesting to see whether this is just an episode or not. Seeing how the Iraq issue was handled, I think they will go for another target.

	22-03-2003 22:36									#95
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This is part of the reason why I don't understand this war.

Iraq is, relatively speaking, small potatoes. Nasty dictator, sure, but there are worse. There are countries with far more ties to terrorism. There are countries that pose a larger threat to the world.

And yet, we go after Iraq, where the post-war campaign will tie us down for years, possibly decades.

There are bigger fish to fry.

	22-03-2003 22:38									#96
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quote: Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat Occupation is going to be a problem, but UR seemed to imply that there were problems now, while still in the warfighting phase.

Though you are already starting to have a substantial budget deficit. If that begins to increase further, the options will be to raise interest rates or let inflation spiral upwards, neither of which will sit very well with the people at home. On that basis alone I'd say that you've pretty much reached your limit for the time being, especially if things start getting nasty with N. Korea.

	22-03-2003 22:53									#97
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quote: Originally posted by Guynemer This is part of the reason why I don't understand this war. Iraq is, relatively speaking, small potatoes. Nasty dictator, sure, but there are worse. There are countries with far more ties to terrorism. There are countries that pose a larger threat to the world. And yet, we go after Iraq, where the post-war campaign will tie us down for years, possibly decades. There are bigger fish to fry.

Because they're weak and isolated both politically and militarily; an easy target.

	22-03-2003 23:03									#98
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Of course, none of our opinions matter, since they come from people with no power to put them into action, who arrived at their conclusions via information obtained from the daily news rather than the detailed intelligence reports available to those who ARE in power...that's why I don't take a stand on Iraq. I'm with Socrates on most issues; I know nothing.
Which is not to say we should all stay silent, but really, do we actually *know* enough (as in facts, not just cynical second-guessing) to make this kind of decision?
With that said, at Krotopkin's suggestion, I nominate Sweden.

	22-03-2003 23:38									#99
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MtG, are you aware of any effort to raise new divisions?

	23-03-2003 02:19									#100
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quote: Originally posted by Willem But you'll be tied down for awhile during the reconstruction phase. Your going to need a fair amount of troops in there just to prevent the Kurds and Shiites from getting thier pound of flesh from the Sunnis. It would be sheer folly to pull out and wage another war before this one has been fully completed.

Maybe they´ll do it like in Afghanistan where they lost interest after a short while and left rebuilding and peacekeeping for large parts to the UN-Forces

	23-03-2003 02:33									#101
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quote: Originally posted by Proteus_MST Maybe they´ll do it like in Afghanistan where they lost interest after a short while and left rebuilding and peacekeeping for large parts to the UN-Forces

Different situation. In order to counter the world wide backlash caused by invading Iraq, they'll have to stay and show the rest of us that they really are sincere about their altrustic reasons for going in. If not, everyone will say, "See, it was just about oil after all, they are just being imperialists."

Besides, the last thing Karzai needs is to give the Afghanis the impression that their country is under the rule of an occupying force. He has enough trouble controlling the warlords as it is. Bringing in the UN was a good move in that country, it provides more legitimacy for a fragile government.

Not to mention the fact that the UN has far more expertise in situations like that. That's why they'll have to play a role in Iraq as well.

	23-03-2003 02:37									#102
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quote: Originally posted by Lancer MtG, are you aware of any effort to raise new divisions?

Yes. I'm aware that there's not only no effort to do so, but there's no interest in the chickenhawk side of the DoD to wasting money on something as useless as ground forces.

	23-03-2003 03:09									#103
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Well after fighting this campaign with imaginary allies, they'll fight the next one with imagenary divisions. Shock and awe, baby, shock and awe...

	23-03-2003 03:19									#104
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Well, as you pointed out once Mike, NG and reserves can't hold the place for long, as they'll lose their jobs. So, no new divisions means nobody is next for quite a while.

	23-03-2003 03:26									#105
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North Korea

	23-03-2003 03:35									#106
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Bush doesn't want Iran or Turkey/Kurds next.
The Arabs are steamed enough right now, so hopefully those work out.

	23-03-2003 06:04									#107
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And Lybia?
What about Lybia?

	27-03-2003 14:28									#108
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What about Libya?

Khaddafi's been a good boy (relatively speaking) since Reagan spanked him a while back. An object lesson to tinpot dictators everywhere that we will leave them alone if they stay out of our way.

	27-03-2003 16:57									#109
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We should invade Australia. The human rights of the Australian people are being violated, since they're being forced to live in Australia.

	27-03-2003 17:12									#110
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Syria:

It's flat, it's even more weak and backward then Iraq, it's small, it's next to Israel...


and, most importantly, Bush can find it on those little maps at the backs of Bibles....

c'mon guys, you do know he's just trying to give the big JC a 'nudge' to come back quick right? A few wars in the proper areas with the 'Kings of the East', and whatever country the van Impe/Lindsey crowd thinks are gog and magog today...you know the drill

	27-03-2003 21:02									#111
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quote: Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat Our forces are moving virtually unopposed everywhere, cutting off and isolating small pockets of (possible) resistance.

Speaking perhaps a bit too soon?

	27-03-2003 21:08									#112
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quote: Originally posted by Willem Probably because they realize that N. Korea is just having a temper tantrum and trying to get attention.

So far, DPRK has completely outwitted the US diplomatically. So, after strong words not working, the US decided to resume food aid. So, after that's done - clearly the US is paying attention - why not just take the last step?

quote: Originally posted by Willem Their regime is on it's last legs, and they're just hoping at this point they can delay the inevitable.

The thing is, if Kim Jong-Il is really crazy as most people alleged, and that if DPRK has nuclear weapons, leaving him along when he is on his last leg is beyond stupid.

	28-03-2003 09:10									#113
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quote: Originally posted by Urban Ranger The thing is, if Kim Jong-Il is really crazy as most people alleged, and that if DPRK has nuclear weapons, leaving him along when he is on his last leg is beyond stupid.

I don't think he's crazy at all. Like you said he's outwitted the US since he began the whole thing. It seems pretty obvious to me that he's just using the situation, i.e. Iraq, to his advantage with the nuclear option as leverage for certain guarentees. One of his very first demands was a formal pledge by the US not to attack, since they're concerned with Bush's "Axis of Evil" comments. But then that's just my take on it, I admit I don't really know very much about him.

	28-03-2003 10:53									#114
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There isn't a "next" in the same terms as Iraq.

Meaning, no full scale invasion is going to happen.

Phillipines is already underway.

Also consider there are still many special ops missions taking place all over the place hunting down and killing Al Queda. That's going to be going on for a very long time.

However, US is about to engage in a massive cold war against Iran and North Korea.

So you CIA Boogie Man Theory guys will have lots of great new info to talk about again. Now you can blame the already horrible conditions in North Korea on the US and the CIA.

	28-03-2003 12:05									#115
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quote: Originally posted by Ted Striker There isn't a "next" in the same terms as Iraq. Meaning, no full scale invasion is going to happen.

Of course not, you're going to be bogged down in both Iraq and Afghanistan for some time to come. There's no way that you'll be able to just walk away and leave those countries to their own devices, again. The world will be watching you very carefully after this. And Al Qaeda is bound to gain a few new recruits and support from the very angry Muslims in the ME now. This war is going to make your anti-terrorism campaign much more difficult to win.

	28-03-2003 13:02									#116
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quote: Congratulations atawa! You just won this year's award for "Most stunningly bizarre definition of "democracy"!" This gives you automatic shortlisting for "Apolyton Clueless Numbnuts of the year".

Posting for Jesus again, Laz?

I vote Canada.

Lots of oil, natural resources.
Evil Frenchmen running the country.
Cuts Alaska off from the rest of the US.

	28-03-2003 14:49									#117
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Dudes, you should not worry about who's next.... but when will the presidente reintroduce conscription....

Now thats where the fun part starts...

	28-03-2003 15:18									#118
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The bill to reintroduce conscription has already been proposed in the House.

Of course, it was proposed by Dem. Charles Rangel from Harlem, who did it to protest the disproportionate number of poor men of color who will fight and die in Iraq. It was a stunt, but he's right about one thing: an army in which upper-middle class white boys were proportionately represented would never have been sent into Iraq.

	28-03-2003 15:22									#119
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I wont jack this thread, so watch for the consctiprion thread...

	28-03-2003 15:24									#120
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quote: Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly an army in which upper-middle class white boys were proportionately represented would never have been sent into Iraq.

Like the National Guard?