Quagmire...

10-28-09, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Well and in this case what would be considered "winning" then?

The main problem with "winning" is that nowadays they havn't got the faintest idea who it is they are fighting.
Like that diplomat says they are fighting people in neighbouring valleys who have nothing to do with each other at all.
The wasted opertunity has allowed the conflict to devolve into thousands of seperate wars which will all have to be dealt with before they can deal with the real war that they should have dealt with years ago.

SteamWake · 10-28-09, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribesman

The main problem with "winning" is that nowadays they havn't got the faintest idea who it is they are fighting.
Like that diplomat says they are fighting people in neighbouring valleys who have nothing to do with each other at all.
The wasted opertunity has allowed the conflict to devolve into thousands of seperate wars which will all have to be dealt with before they can deal with the real war that they should have dealt with years ago.

Speaking of dealing with things years ago.

Do you feel it would have been any different if Clinton had grabbed Bin Laden when he was offered?

Oberon · 10-28-09, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Speaking of dealing with things years ago.

Do you feel it would have been any different if Clinton had grabbed Bin Laden when he was offered?

I think so, and I'm more a Democrat than a Republican. However, would it have prevented 9/11? Probably not, although it might have pushed it back a few years as Al'Qaeda reorganised. Al'Qaeda, after all, is not a snake, it is a Hydra, you may hurt it when you chop off one head and it might recoil, but there are still plenty of heads left.

Platapus · 10-28-09, 06:50 PM

I have the same questions for President Obama that I had for President Bush.

1. What is the objective in the AF conflict?

2. How will we measure progress/lack of progress toward those objectives?

3. What is the exit criteria for success/failure?

If you read SJ Resolution 23 "Authorization for use of military force", Congress authorized the use of military action but did not state any objectives!!

How can you start a war with no idea how or when to end it???

CaptainHaplo · 10-28-09, 09:36 PM

You can't win a war when you fail to understand the enemy.

You can't win a war when your more concerned about being politically correct.

You can't win a war when your not willing to fight it as a war.

You can't win a war when you refuse to identify who your enemy is.

You can't win a war when you allow the enemy to masquerade as your friend.

Both Bush and Obama failed to comprehend these principles. Thus it will remain a mess.

10-28-09, 06:50 PM	#4
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	I have the same questions for President Obama that I had for President Bush. 1. What is the objective in the AF conflict? 2. How will we measure progress/lack of progress toward those objectives? 3. What is the exit criteria for success/failure? If you read SJ Resolution 23 "Authorization for use of military force", Congress authorized the use of military action but did not state any objectives!! How can you start a war with no idea how or when to end it??? __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

10-28-09, 09:36 PM	#5
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	You can't win a war when you fail to understand the enemy. You can't win a war when your more concerned about being politically correct. You can't win a war when your not willing to fight it as a war. You can't win a war when you refuse to identify who your enemy is. You can't win a war when you allow the enemy to masquerade as your friend. Both Bush and Obama failed to comprehend these principles. Thus it will remain a mess. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo