Why can't the military win the war in Iraq?
436216
By the "Iraq War", I will -assume- you mean the fight between the Iraqi insurgency (and Al Qaeda terrorists) vs. US (and Iraqi Defense Forces). Occupation, police action, whatever you want to call it.\n\nThe reason why we cannot defeat the insurgency is because the United States has not learned much from history (I would place most of the blame on the incompetent civilian leadership, regardless of party).\n\nThe civilian leadership did not have a contigency plan that geared towards reconstruction and defeating a potential insurgency. Their love of their doctrine and dreams blinded them as to what might happen. The military leadership, trained to make Plan Bs, tried to warn the civilian leadership of their folly, but were ignored. Remember General Shinseki telling Rumsfeld that at several hundred thousand US troops would be needed to pacify Iraq? Well, he is suspected of having been sacked (officially he "retired").\n\nNext, after the invasion, Iraq's infrastructure was destroyed by "shock and awe," followed by tensions between the Iraqis and the US troops. Remember that the civilian leadership thought that when the US came in the Iraqis would celebrate us as liberators? Well, Iraqis know their history. They know the West's past involvement in the Middle East, known as colonialism. They remember what the French did in Egypt. They remember what the British did in Iraq. The Iraqis did not trust us either nor do they like us (traditional vs modern culture clash). Also, the Iraqis lost power and water and all the essentials for everyday life due to all the bombing campaigns. These factors combined created a massive backlash against the US presence.\n\nAlso, the military uses conventional strategy and tactics to deal with its enemies, the way it has been trained. Unfortunately, most of this is outdated WWI/WWII military thought, which some call "Second Generation Warfare" (the German blitzkrieg is an example of Third Generation Warfare, and the VC element in Vietnam is an example of Fourth Generation Warfare). This is in layman terms of taking ground and destroying the enemy with superior firepower. Unfortunately, such conventional strategy/tactics do not work when you are facing insurgents and terrorists. When dealing with insurgents and terrorists kinetically (means blowing things up, shooting things up, arresting everyone in sight, etc), you can cause massive damage in the civilian infrastructure and create a large amount of collateral damage. This enrages the people, who would then decide to shelter the insurgents and terrorists from the US military, because they want the Americans out. Mao's fish in water illustration. As well, a lack of cultural understanding also makes the tensions escalate. When the Americans carried out their cordon and searches, they disrespected Iraqi customs and violated individual Iraqi's honor. Such gross disrespect of another's culture (especially when you deal with traditional people) is unforgivable, and makes more enemies than allies. This can fuel the insurgency and create support for it.\n\nLastly, our grand strategy must put emphasis on political, social, and economic issues, as opposed to military issues. The goal should be to gain the moral high ground and to use more psychological warfare as opposed to physical warfare. By forcing Iraqis to create a "democracy" (which is actually a republic; democracy is the wrong term to use if you have read Madison's Federalist #10), we are ignoring that these people have a traditional culture who have not been given the time to embrace Western ideals. Remember in history, it has taken several hundred years for the West to develop and embrace Western ideals such as "democracy" and "equality" and etc. Now we expect Iraq to eat all this in one or two decades? Also, we need to focus on at least giving the Iraqis the basic necessities in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
546186
US army must move out from IraQ,not Iraq only but Afghanistan also.So Iraq leaders or politicial can "making " strong government.I mean "Iraq government style".
724318
They all say the war in Iraq can't be won by military means. A diplomatic solution involving other countries in the region, is the only way.
1087932
I'm sure the US Military & its counterpart military allies are all aware Iraq is a conflict they can never win. The same as Vietnam. However, the military is subservient to its Gov'ts. It obeys orders and carries them out. Years from now when the Iraq veterans gather to rember the period and those lost maybe our politicians will have learnt to tread more carefully. Equally, if such a conflict is to be entered into again, do it with mercenaries and volunteers and allow them to set the rules and support them to the hilt & clamp down the media press. They M&V's will settle it in no time. As for the media press, its impossible to know whose damned side there on. They file every piece of dirt they can against our own men, totally forgetting what were up against, what were fighting. Were fighting Islam extremists. they dont have rules or values as we do. Our press and politicians will not  sit down and take a deep hard look at whats involved. Its time to pull out and let dog eat dog.
889180
Yes, and it's actually quite simple. Give the Iraqi government a SPECIFIC deadline to withdraw coalition troops and stick to it. They are not holding up their end of the deal. They think if they continue to appear weak and in distress that we will stay inevitably, and we seem to be falling into that trap. Our administration needs to get a clue that they are really being played by these people. How's April 1st. No Foolin'.
995462
America and our western allies DO NOT HAVE the support or TRUST of the people of Iraq! Our soliders will continue to be killed because we cannot win the hearts, minds, and faith of the people of Iraq. \n\nThe people of Iraq continue to suffer due to our occupation there. Our soliders have killed ( a kill is in the line of duty) and murdered (an unjust taking of a life) hundreds of thier people. Terrorist have done the same. The people of Iraq DO NOT SEE a difference between the Insurgents and our soliders...our being there has caused the death and suffering of many innocent people over there. Without the TRUE support of the people of Iraq America will not win.\n\nIf we kill one "Big Daddy" another one will take his place...this is a fact...Bush and the idiots on "the Hill" don't know sh*#!
724278
there is never a winner in war, number of casualties deter the taste of victory for the winning side
641159
You gave your own answer.  You are correct that the insurgents don't plan on winning...they know they can't.  But, they do plan on wearing down the will of the American people and count on the western media to give them the hand they need.\n\nThey have believed since the deposition of the Shah of Iran that Americans are a weak-willed, chicken-shit, tough-talkin' bunch of softies.  Only since 9/11 have they had to re-think that supposition.\n\nRight now, the extraordinary men and women of our armed forces, and that of our coalition partners are giving them pause.  What THEY assumed would be a soft target has turned into a quagmire for THEM.  THEIR resources are strained, THEIR young men are dying for nothing.  \n\nI believe that our armed forces and their families would argue vehemently that our troops are indeed fighting and dying for the cause of freedom.  The fact that the long-term success of their mission will be judged in terms defined by a media bent on disgracing them and destroying their Commander in Chief, will not affect their dedication to finishing what they started.\n\nI think your premise and your question are disingenuous, and simply designed as flame-bait.
531911
The military was not allowed to fight a real war.
986782
Nobody wins.\n\nThe last time we "won" we had to kill hundreds of thousands of civilians in both Germany and Japan. If our self-styled leadership wants to go big, and basically exterminate one of the Muslim factions in Iraq, we could slow things down for a short while, and bring our kids home.\n\nThen we could send the chairborne rangers (see above) over and let them flap their gums at the Iraqis. Nothing like tough talk from a bunch of wimpy kids to set things straight, you bet!
878775
That's political face saving at best trying to buy time to come up with an excuse to leave. The truth is there is no saving the situation in Iraq. This is now a tribal and religious war and will have to burn itself out we are just in the way. The govt that was elected in Iraq is so convoluted that no one has real power just the militias and they have infiltrated everything to the highest levels. Thus the Iraq army has been totally nullified along with the police forces. There is no getting it right that ship has long ago sailed. The generals hopes and dreams will not change that. It would be best to get out or move our troops to the oil facilities only and keep the crude safe from terrorist and insurgents. Any extra troops can be sent to Afghanistan that can still be saved. Once the most powerful tribes win control of Iraq we can then do like all the rest before us supply them with weapons and expertise and thus prop up another new Saddam.
1115232
The US Army does not really have any goals. Vague goals like: creating a democracy does not work in the real world. It will take a lot of time (which the central admin cannot commit) a lot of money (which they cannot commit over an extended period) and a lot of lives (which the electorate are getting sick of losing). No goals = no victory = losing.\n\nThe goal of the insurgency is simple: KIll Americans, drive them out, kill anyone who helps the Americans. Kill people of different ethnic minorities. PLUS, they are willing to DIE for their cause.\n\nOur soldiers don't even want to be there. They fight mainly b/c they are paid AND because if they don't fight they'll get thrown in prison. Some fight 'for their country' - whatever that means - morale is low, and they would sooner leave rather than stay in a war zone.\n\nIt doesn't take rocket science to work this out. This 'war' cannot be won with guns. This is a political situation, more than armed conflict. This is something which the military does not train for. The US army will lose.\n\nLet's give our soldiers a warm welcome when the come home though. Pray for their safe return.
116522
The War on Terror is a different war than ever fought, and that's why it is so difficult to win. What people don't realize is that these terrorists or freedom fighters are fighting for what they so deeply believe in, and they are not part of an organized military. They can be anyone from Joe down the street, or Al-Mohhomed in Afghanastan. No one knows. The rest of the world is begining to realize that yes, this is a serious threat, and it harms more than the United Staes. Take the U.K bombings, and hotel bombing in Jordan. Al-Quida is terrorising people of the same faith. With this war there are no borders. I do not agree with George Bush, but I will say that he is correct in one aspect. We must stay the course until victory is ours. If we back down to people who threaten us, then that puts us and the rest of the world into a submissive situation, and then those people will begin to walk all over us. Once a victory is achieved by someone, that person wants more, and becomes power hungry. That is the situation with terrorists. The war on terrorism is a bitter stale-mate.
826141
The real problem with winning the war in Iraq is the media and the American people... The United States government has to be so politically correct in everything they do, that you can't fight a real war... In WWII we bombed the living s**t out of every country we invaded or liberated... We blew up Church's, houses, orphanages, hospitals you name it was destroyed... the objective of war is to destroy the enemy so bad that he gives up... Why do you think Japan surrendered after we dropped the 2 a-bombs...because we destroyed 2 whole cities and were willing to destroy more... Japan knew they couldn't afford anymore battles like that so they quit... But now adays if you accidentally blow up a school, the media is all over it and the American public goes in an outrage...That's the main reason we have smart bombs today, to try and reduce the civilian casualties... But it's hard to fight an enemy that places his armor next to or on top of a school building... The politics of this war are no different than what was in Vietnam... During Vietnam the American public learned how brutal war was by watching it first hand on TV... That's when they couldn't handle the fact that women and children die in war... So they all sat around protesting and calling the soldiers baby killers... The hard truth is that America will never win another war in any country, because the American people can't handle the fact of what war is really about...
201289
it wont do any good, but they cant be allowed to possess a weapon based on what they have said in the past -- note, they are already funding fighters in Iraq against us, so they ARE in fact trying to pick a fight with us.
777925
LOL- The USA can't even control Baghdad.
63561
Well the military at the lower levels have never had much in the way of a budget.  Don't get me wrong the military gets a few hundred million for missiles and large weapons.  But still have hard time stretching the budget far enought to purchase things like paper, pens, toner cartridges and toilet paper.