Orwell would be so very proud
From the (U.K.) Sunday Times Online:
I'm so confused. Here's the high-level messaging over time:
(1) First liberation of Baghdad, topping of Saddam statue, etc. April, 2003.
(2) Mission Accomplished -- end of combat ops in Iraq, May 2003.
(3) Three years of progress.
(4) Second liberation of Baghdad, 2006.
Can anybody else spot the logical flaw here? And no, I don't mean the low probability of the condition precedent -- the formation of a government. Partial credit given for explaining the tragic illogic of deploying air power to pacify a country you claim to control.
The American military is planning a “second liberation of Baghdad” to be carried out with the Iraqi army when a new government is installed.
Pacifying the lawless capital is regarded as essential to establishing the authority of the incoming government and preparing for a significant withdrawal of American troops.
...
Helicopters suitable for urban warfare, such as the manoeuvrable AH-6 “Little Birds” used by the marines and special forces and armed with rocket launchers and machineguns, are likely to complement the ground attack.
I'm so confused. Here's the high-level messaging over time:
(1) First liberation of Baghdad, topping of Saddam statue, etc. April, 2003.
(2) Mission Accomplished -- end of combat ops in Iraq, May 2003.
(3) Three years of progress.
(4) Second liberation of Baghdad, 2006.
Can anybody else spot the logical flaw here? And no, I don't mean the low probability of the condition precedent -- the formation of a government. Partial credit given for explaining the tragic illogic of deploying air power to pacify a country you claim to control.
posted by bluememe at 4/17/2006
1 Comments:
In the movie "Blue Thunder", which was about a super helicopter so technologically advanced as to constitute a WMD, the character played by Roy Scheider, after watching a demonstration of the chopper in a disastrous "ground/crowd control" exhibition was asked his opinion. He stated, "We already tried controlling people on the ground with airpower and it doesn't work."
When asked where it had been tried he had a one word reply, "Vietnam."
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