Wow. I'm sure I've seen this before; if not on the Sift then my fault for not sifting it because I find it completely provocative.

If this isn't a pretty good example of why soldiers trained for combat and left in an occupation role for too long is generally Not a Good Thing (TM), I'm not sure what would be - and I mean no disrespect to the soldiers who do endure the 'boring' days between insurgent attacks with respect for the Iraqi citizenry.

videosiftbannedme wrote:

"I love how in this war, the dialog has been spun so "we have to win." Win what?"

Exactly...when we went over there we were told it was to get rid of the WMD's and get rid of Saddam. Well..."Mission Accomplished" as the President even agreed.

There is no way that we are going to "win" if that is defined by us staying and having a HUGE military presence in Iraq and no more insurgent attacks. The people in that region will just not allow it.

NSFW for some language at the very end. Description from original Break:

This is a really cool video of a Humvee driving through Iraqi traffic. In order to avoid insurgent attacks they cant stop or slow down, even if that requires some improvised driving.

An insurgent attack every 15 minutes now, according to Woodward.

I fail to see how turning our men into cannon fodder with no plan "supports the troops".

very good points, and I agree with most.
There are 3 options that I can see..

1) Indefinite troop deployment, the Iraqi government evolves into a kind of american hybrid system, green zones and "insurgent" attacks continue, eventual spread of "freedom" into neighbouring countries.

2) Troop withdrawal over the coming years, when americans are satisfied that they have done enough to say they tried, probably violent collapse of the systems put in place. Only to be replaced later by some unknown government system (probably financed by Iran).

3) Immediate troop replacement with UN forces totally devoid of any of the current "coalition of the willing", a UN oversight on political structure and an attempt to leave the Iraqi culture in place without diseasing it with International companies.

the third option is probably a little hopeful, as alot of countries are unwilling to risk their soldiers on an american adventure, but if it were truely an international effort there would be no nation state that would be the face of the occupation and would therefor act to calm the situation.

As is, it's a bloody mess, that has totally destroyed any faith I had in the US, UK or my own governments(Australia). The only way to start making it better is to take the current occupiers out of the play, and invest all efforts in trying to restore the damage done to the UN's reputation and in turn the Iraqi government.