Submitted by Capnsunshine, Nov 30, 2006 21:52

The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. That's kind of what we're seeing in our involvement in the Middle East, and in fact, with our approach to terrorism in general. It's just not a problem with a conventional military system approach. these guys don't hide out in trenches with uniforms. They are driven not out of lust for territory or power but by religious zeal. Every military authority on the subject says that our being i Iraq has just aided and abetted the terrorist's various "movements".

WHY aren't we approaching this with a more thoughtful approach? Talks with the enemy have always been a fact of life; even during the most frigid days of the Cold War we still maintained a fully staffed backchannel ( remember the "hotline"?) together with a full complement of intel on the ground. Where's the on-ground intel today? There isn't any. We are trying to maintain a military apporach why? The only way to defeat terrorists is to remove their sources of weapons and personnel. Has anyone EVER mentioned closing down the Wahabbi schools in Saudi? Hell no. Were any of the 9/11 terrorists Iraqi? Hell no. were they majority Saudi, including the big wazoo Bin Laden? Hell yes. This who mideast clusterfick is being run by fat-assed yes men who only want a job on the board of CACI when they get out, and our boys and girls outside the green zone are being hosed every which way they turn. They have to PAY to get their clothes laundered badly by a private contractor. They watch civilians driving trucks make 5 times what they do. They see ungodly almost daily waste. Ever hear of a burn pit? None of our activity in Iraq is going to get us anywhere near where we need to be, which is in the field, working with local law enforcement and maintaining a vigilance at home that does not currently exist. Our black OPs are much more capable of fighting in the realm the terrorists actually occupy, and placing hundreds of thousands of grunts in bewteen to catch crossfire and flak is just bad juju. The solution to terrorism is at issue, unclear, and murky, but it sure ain't driving around in the sand with a target on your ass. At least if we hold talks with them, we can put a few bugs on them and follow them home.

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