Lion's Daily Blurb - Tues., Wed., June 19, 20

[Lion]

According to THIS STORY (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,284233,00.html), a major offensive was launched in Iraq on Tuesday. Operation Arrowhead Ripper is under way with 10,000 US troops, and numerous attack helicopters, Bradley fighting vehicles, and Strykers who's goal is to clear out the Sunni insurgents, Al Qaeda, and Shiite militia. While I doubt highly this new offensive will bring any peace to the area, at least some kind of action is being taken. If our US soldiers must stay in Iraq, then they should be allowed to at least try and clean the place up instead of acting like a police force and targets for the insurgents. If we're gonna stay in the country, then we must fight, and throw everything we have at them. Stop all this pussyfootin around and get it done. And if there are other countries sticking their noses in Iraq and helping those against us, then let's send them a message on the nose of missiles. It's quite obvious Iran needs to hear from us, but we DO have to be diplomatic, don't we.

[BehindEnemyRhymes]

Smashing!
It's definitely about time. Don't know if 22 insurgents is that much of an accomplishment, especially taking the "numerous attack helicopters, Bradley fighting vehicles, and Strykers" into the account, but it beats being passive, otherwise insurgents get to think they can do whatever they want without serious retaliation, but this will change their mindset.
I like the name they came up with for this operation: Arrowhead Ripper. Sounds badass. I wonder if they have a special guy who comes up with these names.
As for Iran, hopefully, we won't have to beef it out with these fruitcakes- not that I'm against some butt kicking, but the dough and other resources is what bothers me, we spent so much on Iraq already. I hope that diplomatic is the only way we'll have to deal with ol' Iran there.

[General Al Ramsey]

Yeah I read that story too LION. I wonder if these pushes aren't politically motivated. After all why does the press all of a sudden become concerned with a military operation. What have these guys been doing all this time ...golfing? I don't think so. They need to have constant pressure like this. I say 22 a day would be good.

As for Iran, I think they are eggin us on. Taking hostages, putting them on trial etc. (Taking over a British ship) I think we need to take out their brand spanking new power plant, before the year is over. It would be a declaration of war, but they have already declared war on us. So may as well face reality.

[Mikael Grizzly]

Propaganda move, nothing more. The problem is that the Pentagon thinks that the rebels in Iraq are a military force like any other and can be fought via conventional means.

A rag-tag military force that operates in Iraq is an elusive enemy, one that is hard to catch, kill and impossible to defeat. They conciously draw the coalition troops into urban environments where they have the upper hand and will quite propably win the skirmish. Also, if the coalition returns fire and gives them everything they've got, they'll inevitably cause civilian casualties which in turn leads to more narive population joining the rebels.

Hell, Soviets launched offensives of this magnitude repeatedly in Afghanistan
and yet the mujahadeen managed to kick them out of their country. There is no indication whatsoever that we will succeed where they failed, both Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Avapodnaught]

Never really understood diplomats and such, so I use a very misguided substitution as a way to express it my own way as I see it (thinking of a word here....)
Its all like a game... In order for their to be balance changes or patches must be made for it to take out the bugs and all the problems... Not only that...
But it seems that we have hackers and it is going to a very long time before it all gets working in some sort of harmonious manner, with bugs and other sorts of wrongdoing that will need even more time to fix... it may never get done in my lifetime... but if u think this is a bad (umm, whatever the word im thinking of is), then, well, this is my first time doing this with something so contraversial... first time in the blurb too... (wheew!!!)

[SgtRicko]

Yeah I read that story too LION. I wonder if these pushes aren't politically motivated. After all why does the press all of a sudden become concerned with a military operation. What have these guys been doing all this time ...golfing? I don't think so. They need to have constant pressure like this. I say 22 a day would be good.

We've launched several such offensives in the past year alone. Problem is that the insurgents have wised up and realized that scenarios like fallujah and Tikrit aren't really practical or possible, and have now resorted to simply running away or posing as civilians and then escaping to fight elsewhere whenever our big guns come rolling.

[hissingnewt]

How about having special forces in Iraq dressed as civilians but they have pistols with them at all times. Then, when they see an insurgent randomly in the streets, they pull out their pistol and shoot the insurgent.:looklive:

[Mikael Grizzly]

How about having special forces in Iraq dressed as civilians but they have pistols with them at all times. Then, when they see an insurgent randomly in the streets, they pull out their pistol and shoot the insurgent.:looklive:

I guess Caucasians can camouflage themselves as arabs really, really well... seriously though, any such agent would be torn apart by Iraqis shortly after. Or shot by other camo'd rebels.

[zazie]

Lion, you are doing a great job for the CnC-community. But you should not push your personal political opinions in those forums: it looks like propaganda.

Of course everybody has the right for his personal opinion. But as "Moderator" oder "Administrator" (or owner ;)) you are in a special position and you are talking ex cathedra .

Sure we can discuss your "daily blurb" and I know that you accept other opinions too. But we do not have the power to close the discussion. And I remember how harsh other forum members can be if someone does not share the common Pro-US-committment here.

This is more on an abstract level.
On the political level I only can say: How can you as an US-citizen even think about attacking Iran when the US-Government has proven its incompetence in checking and balancing the risks, tasks and means for the whole Iraq-operation ? Yes, you DO have to be diplomatic - quoting you here without your irony :)

[Mikael Grizzly]

I don't think Lion is doing anything wrong, it's his daily blurb after all.

[General Al Ramsey]

Lion, you are doing a great job for the CnC-community. But you should not push your personal political opinions in those forums: it looks like propaganda.

Of course everybody has the right for his personal opinion. But as "Moderator" oder "Administrator" (or owner ;)) you are in a special position and you are talking ex cathedra .

Sure we can discuss your "daily blurb" and I know that you accept other opinions too. But we do not have the power to close the discussion. And I remember how harsh other forum members can be if someone does not share the common Pro-US-committment here.

First of all ,I fail to see how a daily blurb can be considered propaganda. If you look at the reads a normal blurb gets, it is only a couple of hundred maybe more on weekends.

Secondly, A forum is a discussion of ideas and opinions. Whether you agree with them or not...Is just a discussion. I don't agree with with everyone's opinion, but it is good to hear others thoughts.

Thirdly, as far as a bias one way or the other, everyone has their own bias whether Pro US or Liberal or Republican or possibly even a Democrat. :nuts:(that's a joke ...I just showed my bias) So why should you get the power to close the discussion?

[Annihlator :D]

Lion, you are doing a great job for the CnC-community. But you should not push your personal political opinions in those forums: it looks like propaganda.

Of course everybody has the right for his personal opinion. But as "Moderator" oder "Administrator" (or owner ;)) you are in a special position and you are talking ex cathedra .

Sure we can discuss your "daily blurb" and I know that you accept other opinions too. But we do not have the power to close the discussion. And I remember how harsh other forum members can be if someone does not share the common Pro-US-committment here.


Not to antagonize the situation, but this is one of the things I hate, you actually don't have to read Lions Daily blurb, its on the front page and your forced to look at it directly? don't go to the front page, the URL for the forums is very simple. You want to go to the front page? then close you eyes and scroll down. It's really not a matter of coercion, but choosing to accept it.


and know to the good stuff :D

I am frankly surprised they have manged to catch 22 insurgents, Operation AR sounds like a conventional force attack, something A general might use to take a city without armor support, however against insurgents that use hit an run tactics, hide, and even flee it doesn't sound like it would work to well.

[Lion]

Lion, you are doing a great job for the CnC-community. But you should not push your personal political opinions in those forums: it looks like propaganda.

Of course everybody has the right for his personal opinion. But as "Moderator" oder "Administrator" (or owner ;)) you are in a special position and you are talking ex cathedra .

Sure we can discuss your "daily blurb" and I know that you accept other opinions too. But we do not have the power to close the discussion. And I remember how harsh other forum members can be if someone does not share the common Pro-US-committment here.

This is more on an abstract level.
On the political level I only can say: How can you as an US-citizen even think about attacking Iran when the US-Government has proven its incompetence in checking and balancing the risks, tasks and means for the whole Iraq-operation ? Yes, you DO have to be diplomatic - quoting you here without your irony :)

Obviously your new to the DEN and forums...I'm not pushing my personal political opinions on anyone. My daily blurbs are intended to generate thought. It's VERY rare I close the discussions, and I welcome any and all opinions as long as they are on a somewhat mature level.

As far as what I specifically stated in this daily blurb, it has nothing to do with a political agenda. Wanting the soldiers to get the job done so they can come home is hardly political. As far as attacking Iran, what I meant by that is just what I said...send some missiles as a message. I'm not calling for an all out war. Strategical bombing would be a nice start. They don't pay any attention to diplomatic efforts by the USA, so why bother. Having said that, you are entitled to your own opinion. If it makes you feel better to think I'm being political, tis ok with me. Life is far too short for me to argue the point further. Enjoy the forums.

[Slapper]

Hell, Soviets launched offensives of this magnitude repeatedly in Afghanistan
and yet the mujahadeen managed to kick them out of their country. There is no indication whatsoever that we will succeed where they failed, both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Said that about 17 times on this forum :D The Russians found the Mujahedeen's tactics rather distasteful. Although it was not the Russian Media or Opposition party that meddled in the Military's Affairs was it, they never had a say in what went on. They left because the Russian Commanders understood that you cannot deal with Fanatical Zealots in any way but killing them, and one looks like the next, they blend in, they knew the terrain better and were highly motivated and suicidal. Not rocket science is it.

A rag-tag military force that operates in Iraq is an elusive enemy, one that is hard to catch, kill and impossible to defeat. They conciously draw the coalition troops into urban environments where they have the upper hand and will quite propably win the skirmish. Also, if the coalition returns fire and gives them everything they've got, they'll inevitably cause civilian casualties which in turn leads to more narive population joining the rebels.

Im beginning to like this Mikael guy.. :) he thinks like me, that is scary...said this too.

I guess Caucasians can camouflage themselves as arabs really, really well... seriously though, any such agent would be torn apart by Iraqis shortly after. Or shot by other camo'd rebels.

That is true and yet it isnt. Hard to kill a 13 year old playing with toys outside when 5 minutes before you saw him, he was manning an AK-47 or setting IED around the corner from your troop. not a nice battle they fight, reversing the tactics on them has its merits, but at the end of the day, a Caucasian is a Caucasian...hard to blend in.

but that being said, i have more than a bit of knowledge about SF Tactics and how they operate in Afghanistan, they actually do quite well infiltrating deep into Taliban Territory, dont kid yourself. They recruit locals sometimes to do the Recon, or they send agents into Madrassa's etc...Think in terms of what covert action they may take as opposed to brute force actions that we hear about. Overt actions speak for themselves, a lot of smart people you can be sure have figured out ways to get in with the enemy...have no fear.Remember they also use 4 Wheelers and Dirt Bikes and Helicopters a lot more effectively that the Russians did back in the 80's, and have put the surprise on a number of Taliban strongholds as of late. The attacks by the Extremists have intensified, and that is because they are slowly getting pushed into a corner in Helmand Province and a few other pockets near the Pakistani border. They are striking out because they have damn near nowhere to run but into Waziristan and other Enclaves in the Paki-Afghani border area.

Regardless of what the Media tells you, there has been significant gains in Afghanistan, a lot more the the Soviets achieved. The Canadian Forces are not as hated as the Russians were either, our boys dont treat them the same do they.....cant speak for the other Nations involved, i only know what i hear from my Brothers in Arms returning from there. i havent been deployed there and probably won't as i now have a Senior Training post for the next 5 years.

I had my day with crazy Arabs, my time for patience with Islam and the whole piece of Human Misery known as the Middle East is long past....i gave up on making sense of that place or those people a while back. Probably about the time i finished my last tour in the Golan, i realized none of that crap makes any sort of good sense on any side, Palestinian, Israeli, Syrian, Lebanese, Hamas, Hezbollah, Shia, Sunni, whatever.....and it made me into a bitter man. i admit that openly now. Seen to much hate i guess.

As far as Iran goes, Persians who are Religious Zealots are even worse than Arabs, the last thing on earth anyone should do is ignore what their Madman President has to say, i wouldnt let that man have Nukes, thats the end of that story right there. It isnt even him id worry about, its those Crazy Mullahs that are the real worry. They are what and who really controls every facet of Iranian life. If i had control of a Stealth Bomber Force , id take away their toys as soon as possible, they are not the kind of Religious Fanatics we need having nukes, any of us.

As far as this Blurb goes, this is a discussion among people from all corners of the globe, it rarely gets above a mild disagreement, we have covered i think about every topic known to man here over the years and yes its been a number of years now, and Lion is always the voice of reason and what he posts provokes thought and discussion, if ya cant handle doing that, scroll down and dont read it. Not a hard concept to ignore that of which you ignore everyday on mindless Media outlets.

[berlin88]

Obviously your new to the DEN and forums...I'm not pushing my personal political opinions on anyone. My daily blurbs are intended to generate thought. It's VERY rare I close the discussions, and I welcome any and all opinions as long as they are on a somewhat mature level.
As far as what I specifically stated in this daily blurb, it has nothing to do with a political agenda. Wanting the soldiers to get the job done so they can come home is hardly political. As far as attacking Iran, what I meant by that is just what I said...send some missiles as a message. I'm not calling for an all out war. Strategical bombing would be a nice start. They don't pay any attention to diplomatic efforts by the USA, so why bother. Having said that, you are entitled to your own opinion. If it makes you feel better to think I'm being political, tis ok with me. Life is far too short for me to argue the point further. Enjoy the forums.


Strategic bombing sounds like a good idea, but it would lead to a lot of political problems. During WW2 we did it all the time, becuse it was accepted as part of war. However, it also meant large waves of bombers leveling cities just to take out the industry. Sure it worked, but lots of civilians died.

Its because of the potential for civilian casualties, that we don't use it. Strategic bombing is not considered a politically correct strategy which is why we haven't used it lately. To the Dems, its better to fight using a politically correct strategy and lose, then use a non politically correct strategy and win.

I would support the use of Startegic bombing and other strategies not deemed politically correct, but then then Demsocrats, the UN and every other anti- war/ human rights group would protest and create a political frenzy.

The Democrats get us into wars like Korea and Vietnam, ask the military to fight and then start playing arm chair general and dictating strategy.

[hissingnewt]

Why is strategic bombing considered politically incorrect? In a war, that means nothing.

[Mikael Grizzly]

War hasn't been declared on Iran and any hostile action against them would be "unprovoked". The current shaky status quo with Iran provides a pretty good cease fire, but leaves room for both parties to maneuver.

A propos democrats: I don't think the Democrats got the US into the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, did they?

For Slapper (man, I love you now):

Said that about 17 times on this forum :D The Russians found the Mujahedeen's tactics rather distasteful. Although it was not the Russian Media or Opposition party that meddled in the Military's Affairs was it, they never had a say in what went on. They left because the Russian Commanders understood that you cannot deal with Fanatical Zealots in any way but killing them, and one looks like the next, they blend in, they knew the terrain better and were highly motivated and suicidal. Not rocket science is it.

Yes. While I did try to hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, I see that what we'll be facing in Afghanistan and Iraq is an evacuation of Coalition troops.

What I'd like to see (although I'm just an armchair commander) is the coalition continously striving to remove the causes of uprisings, rebellions and terrorism, which would minimize or even straightforward destroy the support for the insurgents.

(Sorry for not responding to the other half of the post, but I just agree with most of what you wrote. Plus, I'm a wee bit tired.)

[SgtRicko]

Yes. While I did try to hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, I see that what we'll be facing in Afghanistan and Iraq is an evacuation of Coalition troops.

What I'd like to see (although I'm just an armchair commander) is the coalition continously striving to remove the causes of uprisings, rebellions and terrorism, which would minimize or even straightforward destroy the support for the insurgents.

Actually, Afghanistan is more or less a success story already, at least by Middle Eastern standards. We've routed the main regime, brought a stable and fairly competent government into power, got a good, vocal leader in charge of the parliament there (Hamid Karzai), and the rebels are now more or less stuck to launching what amounts to nothing more than hit and run annoyance strikes, and even then they tend not to successfully hit anything critical often (and whenever they do stir up a hornets nest, the locals pretty much rat 'em away to us).

The only problem, in truth, is that the way Afghanistan is now is actually kind of the way it's always been, and it's going take a damn miracle to convince everyone to hop on the bandwagon of total unity and peace over there (the smaller tribes tend to be nomadic and somewhat distasteful of each other due to each one being totally unique in some way or another).

[WNxAnthrax]

I Strongly agree with Lion on Iran part. I belive we should show some force to stop them from shipping IED Materials to Iraq. We have cleared some 250 houses, and i belive over 50 insurgents killed so far with Operation AR. Hopefully it will help stop the violence atleast a little bit even tho Baghdad is still being attacked by car bombs...