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We tend to think of the U.S. military as a highly intelligent fighting force -- we've got several intelligence collection agencies, think-tanks, in-house analysis operations, war colleges, Chiefs of Staff -- yet this war reminds us that the defense department is also a very big and unwieldy organization that doesn't improvise (quick enough). The tactics we used to fight an unpopular war, counterinsurgency, hearts and minds, establish a democracy, a for-profit war, a dream to leave Iraq pro-American; inevitably led the US pouring billions of dollars into an unwinnable war; an occupation plan that was unsustainable; and an exit plan promised too early...with all this, it makes me wonder what we had planned to accomplish in such a short time.
The war and every lesson we learned, still doesn't make me say, "we need more practice".
With so many factions looking out for thier own interests, (Sunnis, B'ath, etc) confounded military general's, obstacle after obstacle, with a definitive withdrawal looming in the near future, it became a opaque vision for no commander to succeed. This war set-up many of our greatest leaders for failure.
With any build-up (surge) there is a an equal and (even greater) opposite reaction, which we are living through, right now. Now is a time to identify those you want to keep continue serving with, and cutting those loose that are no longer dedicated to the next new mission. $200 Billion dollar budget cut over the next 20 years...this Era will bring much change. Are you prepared?
The war and every lesson we learned, still doesn't make me say, "we need more practice".
With so many factions looking out for thier own interests, (Sunnis, B'ath, etc) confounded military general's, obstacle after obstacle, with a definitive withdrawal looming in the near future, it became a opaque vision for no commander to succeed. This war set-up many of our greatest leaders for failure.
With any build-up (surge) there is a an equal and (even greater) opposite reaction, which we are living through, right now. Now is a time to identify those you want to keep continue serving with, and cutting those loose that are no longer dedicated to the next new mission. $200 Billion dollar budget cut over the next 20 years...this Era will bring much change. Are you prepared?
Posted in these groups: 
Drawdown
Drawdown
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 1
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SSG....I think there were two main problems from the beginning.
1) We conducted our operations faster than was planned (reaching Baghdad in 3 weeks) didn't allow us to transition like we would have wanted.
2) We really didn't plan Phase IV (Stability). This Phase should rely heavily on our State Department brothers and Sisters, unfortunately they don't have the manpower that the DoD does to execute and we still haven't figured out how to plan well at the Inter-Agency level.
I am sure there are several others reasons leading up to the way Iraq was executed, but I think these are the two to start from.
I would also offer that those who served, planned, or support Iraq did our Nation Proud and nothing should be taken away from their service.
1) We conducted our operations faster than was planned (reaching Baghdad in 3 weeks) didn't allow us to transition like we would have wanted.
2) We really didn't plan Phase IV (Stability). This Phase should rely heavily on our State Department brothers and Sisters, unfortunately they don't have the manpower that the DoD does to execute and we still haven't figured out how to plan well at the Inter-Agency level.
I am sure there are several others reasons leading up to the way Iraq was executed, but I think these are the two to start from.
I would also offer that those who served, planned, or support Iraq did our Nation Proud and nothing should be taken away from their service.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
No discredit intended, but for our Commander to pull out early, and have all our efforts thwarted in a few short weeks hurts...and disappoints. And really demoralizes any future endeavors. Just saying...the disappointment I am sharing isn't so much sentiments, but what is being portrayed by media and then the subsequent early withdrawal. I'm sure if they truly consulted with their think tsnks, someone along the way said, FRAGO this is NOW a long term mission...reconsolidate, dig-in, we are staying awhile. It is just one NCO frustrated with how it all went down, and now another 'no boots on the ground' build-up, sorry, I meant only advisors on the ground, which to me is CA, and SF. That is boots on the ground, just shoot straight with me is all I ask Sir!
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LTC (Join to see)
SSG....completely understand where you are coming from. The first BIG problem is the media. They "usually" tend to report what sells (bad news) and usually with their own spin on things. As for the rest, they are great concerns, but one we also have to understand and accept is once we enter stability operations, there has to be personal accountability of the "host" country to do what is best for their country. Although I don't know if the time table method works, but we can't stay there forever (although the Korean war never officially ended with a treaty, just a cease fire and we are still there).
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