Theodore's World

Exactly! Let us do the job we're supposed to do and quit micromanaging it to death. There are times you just can't play by the "rules." (the best people I've ever worked for let us bend the rules a bit to get the job done.)
Notre Dame has "Play like a Champion Today," so why can't the troops "Work like a Champion Today?"
The easier we make it for them, the faster the job gets done. Managers stay out of the way and let them do their jobs! Stop pushing. They KNOW what they have to do. Let them.

The problem I see is we are not making it any easer for them. I've re read the Presidents speech three times now and with each reading mt expectations lower. An awful lot of stars have to be lined up for this plan to work. Some would argue that "Well we must do Something", and I agree. But I'm afraid 20,000 extra troops just aren't going to be enough for the plan outlined between now and November, espescially when A) you've raised the mission expectations to include stopping Iran and Syria. and B) you have a MSM and democratic party that smell blood and want Bush to fail BEFORE they face the possibility of inheriting an Albatross.

Bush has sold himself short. Any increase beyond 20,000 troops now will be the DEMS AHA (!) moment. The possibility of the need for such an increase has gone up exponentially with the dirct threats to Iraqn and Syria last night.

Understand that I am of the opinion that BOTH of those countries should be dealt with in the harshest possible way. But sending 20,000 extra troops to accomplish the much expanded mission inside the borders of Iraq, would seem to me to be an invitation for Mr. AHmanutjub in Iran to continue his path of defiance.

Then you have the Media. It is criminal NOW, the way they are covering these events, yet Bush sems to want to placate them and play right into their hands. Start your watches ladies and gentleman, for the first "JUST MARRIED CIVILIAN" killed while firing an RPG at the newly UNBRIDLED US Troops. If the rules of engagement have really changed, then we can expect alot more sob stories about "innocent" civilians. That is unless we do the right thing and all our troops to open up on CNN and the AP.

I hope, by some miracle this plan will work, but I am pessimistic. I think we need a MUCH LARGER effort. Balls to the wall, go over there and get it done, Pattonesque style.

and one more thing.....What the hell kind of an ending to a presidential address was that anyway"

"We go forward with trust that the Author of Liberty will guide us through these trying hours"????????????Huh??????? Is he talking about God here? Is he afraid to say God when talking to Muslims? What in the name of God happened to, "And God bless America'.....?

That's it, I just had to vent. I have to go away now. May be gone for a couple.

"To Iraqn and Syria" ????? My god, I have Bushatosis!!!!Sorry for that typo above! It should be IRAN and Syria...

To have Dick Durbin speak for the Democraps is the ultimate insult to our military. This is the jerk who compared our men and women to Stalin's Communists.

By the Democraps own admission, these insurgents are giving our troops a hard time...our troops are the most highly trained and powerful military on earth. How do they expect the rag-tag military of Iraq to combat these insurgents when our troops are having difficulties? But, what's making it difficult for our troops is that they're on a short leash and every action is being observed by reporters who are looking for any suspected wrong doing. Get rid of the reporters and unleash the dogs. Only then will we be able to end this thing favorably.

If they don't change the rules of engagement nothing will change. Everytime you turn around some Soldier or Marine is being charged with Murder.

They are suppose to have the basic right of self-defense, they don't.

The military has also tightened rules of engagement as the war has progressed, toughening the requirements before a sniper may shoot an Iraqi. Potential targets must be engaged in a hostile act, or show clear hostile intent.

The marines say insurgents know the rules, and now rarely carry weapons in the open. Instead, they pose as civilians and keep their weapons concealed in cars or buildings until just before they need them. Later, when they are done shooting, they put them swiftly out of sight and mingle with civilians.

These are the same rules Police must follow, not combat troops, they are fighting this war with one hand tied behind their backs.

We've had over 6 years of war, most of it aimed at the president by the Democrat hate machine, then there is the WOT and Iraq.
There are Dems and RINO's who are trying to micromanage the war, restricting the rules of engagement, prosecuting troops for murder when the game of war is killing, killing as many of the enemy as you can to force them into a total surrender. Guerilla's don't wear uniforms but they'll kill you just the same, they are local and foreign guerilla's in civilian dress, Dems want to protect them from interdiction.
No Marine or any soldier for that matter should suffer protracted defensive duty if a strong offense will preclude battle losses. Take out Muqtada and if Malaki interferes take him out too, both with prejudice. His protecting the trouble makers goes against U.S. policy and the Iraqi constitution.
Close the Syrian border to traffic both ways then clean out Anbar Province, disarm them, zero tolerance for any weapons of any kind. Use those feckless reporters as point men, if they want to be in battle then use them, if they refuse shoot them on the spot as enemy agents. Let our troops do their job without the pusillanimous interference of the likes of Reid, Pelosi, Durbin and Kennedy. I'm sick of these pacifist bastards whining about the legitimate execution of a dictator who was worse than Pol Pot or Hitler and their crying over the loss of both his sons who were to be his successors.

Jack is absolutely right about how they want to micromanage the war. Remember how that great Democrat, Lyndon Johnson, once boasted that the military "couldn't bomb a shithouse" without his own approval.

Check out this link for how the job needs to be done!!!!

http://julescrittenden.blogspot.com/2007/01/correct-degree-of-aggression.html

The Ethiopians first rule of engagement in Somalia is, "if he has a weapon and no uniform, kill him". That is what we need in Iraq.

Stop conducting no-win wars. Allow the military to do what needs to be done.

The Correct Degree of Aggression

All this talk about cranking up the heat in Iraq has me thinking. How many people really understand the mental attitude that is necessary to go into battle, if you hope to prevail?

I'm thinking about my friend, Maj. Philip Wolford. He was a captain commanding a tank company when I knew him in Iraq. His tanks, Assassin Company, usually led the battalion's assaults. Wolford became the butt of ribbing by other officers, because from the commander's hatch of his M1A1 Abrams tank, he was using his 9mm pistol and hand grenades against the enemy as often as he used his 120 mm main gun and his .50 cal. That's because Wolford got in close.

Wolford saved my life and those of the men I was riding with at al-Hindiyah, when our Bradley's guns jammed as an Iraqi recoilless rifle crew was about to open fire on us from our right rear quarter -- a high-velocity armor-piercing round that would have bounced around inside, cuisinarting me and Smitty in the rear compartment. Wolford reached down into his box of grenades, pulled the pin and threw one to take out the recoilless crew, which was too close by the roadside for him to angle his guns down on them.

The day before Hindiyah, this is what Wolford told his platoon leaders, platoon sergeants and tank commanders:

"Once the fighting starts, if there are people in the streets, in civilian or military clothing, they are the enemy and they will die," Wolford said, noting that other units had encountered Iraqi fighters in civilian clothes and civilian vehicles.

"There are some towers and high ground. We will shoot all towers," Wolford said. "They have used car bombs and suicide bombers ... If they don’t stop, fire a burst of .762. If they turn around, then they were probably going to the store to get some Saddam beer. If they don’t stop, kill them."

He talked about the paramilitaries, believed to be civilians who were forced into the fight against the Americans in Nasiriyah and Samiwah when the Saddam Fedayeen took their families hostage.

"I don’t think they are fighting for the regime. I don’t think they are fighting for the freedom of Iraq. But make no mistake about it. They will fight," Wolford said. "Like I told you a thousand times, they put one round on you, you put one thousand rounds on them, until those pajama-wearing motherfuckers stop firing. They put one AT (anti-tank) round on us, you blow the whole block up. There is no collateral damage concern that will stop us carrying our mission out. When we’re done, we’ll rename the place Assassin town, because we’ll own it.

"The brigade commander doesn’t say he wants the enemy captured. He doesn’t say he wants the enemy on the run. He says he wants the enemy destroyed. So kill him."

Turning to the map, Wolford pointed out the road that had been dubbed "Route Bruins."

"My intent is to quickly seize this crossing point at the canal, start a fight with the enemy and fucking kill him," Wolford said. "We’re not going to be jackshitting around. We’re going to be quick."

And that's what he did. I was happy to ride with Wolford and men like Platoon Sgt. Jonathan Lustig. I knew they had their wits about them, and the correct degree of aggression that would keep us alive. I should say that I repeatedly saw these men exercise caution in the midst of fire, endangering themselves by withholding fire to prevent civilian deaths. But when they attacked, and when they met resistance, they were quick and ruthless. As the invasion progressed, I realized I was willing to follow them anywhere, and I did, even on a day when we expected to die. In the company of men like that, it would have been a privilege.

Listening to the debate of the past few weeks, it is apparent to me that the Democratic congressional leadership does not understand the correct degree of aggression that is necessary to prosecute a war. I believe, from everything I'm seeing now, that our commander-in-chief does.

Links:
Michelle in Baghdad.

Posted by jules crittenden

You've probably seen this before but I'll post it here because it's funny and very true.

Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, Cokie Roberts, and a U.S. Marine Sergeant were all captured by terrorists in Iraq. The leader of the terrorists told them that he would grant them each one last request before they were beheaded.

Dan Rather said, "Well, I'm a Texan; so I'd like one last bowl full of hot spicy chili." The leader nodded to an underling who left and returned with the chili. Rather ate it all and said, "Now I can die content."

Peter Jennings said, "I am Canadian, so I'd like to hear the song "O Canada" one last time." The leader nodded to a terrorist who had studied the Western world and knew the music. He returned with some ragtag Musicians and played the anthem. Jennings sighed and declared he could now die peacefully.

Cokie Roberts said, "I'm a reporter to the end. I want to take my tape recorder and describe the scene here and what's about to happen. Maybe someday someone will hear it and know that I was on the job till end."

The leader directed an aide to hand over the tape recorder and Roberts dictated some comments. She then said, "Now I can die happy."

The leader turned and said, "And now, Mr. U.S. Marine, what is your final wish?"

"Kick me in the ass," said the Marine.

"What?" asked the leader. "Will you mock us in your last hour?"

"No, I'm not kidding. I want you to kick me in the ass," insisted the Marine. So the leader shoved him into the open, and kicked him in the ass.

The Marine went sprawling, but rolled to his knees, pulled a 9mm pistol from inside his cammies, and shot the leader dead. In the resulting confusion, he leapt to his knapsack, pulled out his M4 carbine and sprayed the Iraqis with gunfire. In a flash, all the Iraqis were either dead or fleeing for their lives.

As the Marine was untying Rather, Jennings, and Roberts, they asked him, "Why didn't you just shoot them in the beginning? Why did you ask them to kick you in the ass first?"

"What," replied the Marine, "and have you three Assholes report that I was the aggressor?

Lynn, I agree...."Managers stay out of the way and let them do their jobs!"....

Billy, good rant.

The biggest thing I hear from the soldiers that write to me is always how they want to go for it. How they they are frustrated in holding back.

Bob, yes that worries me a lot. Here we have the best of the best, trained to the max and with a strong desire to make great strides and they can't. They are told not to, to hold back etc.

Mark, what you wrote is excatly what I hear from the soldiers that write to me. Thank you Mark.

Jack, I agree, what the heck are they (the ones doing their best to control our military) wanting to kill off our troops then whine about it as why we should pull out. Having to even think about the left, the media etc. going after a soldier if he fires is putting our troops in even more danger.

Let our military alone, they know what to do.

Tincan Sailor thanks for the link.

Tincan Sailor , thanks for posting that.

The only part of what Michelle Malkin wrote that I disagree with is this.....

"Listening to the debate of the past few weeks, it is apparent to me that the Democratic congressional leadership does not understand the correct degree of aggression that is necessary to prosecute a war."

The Dems understand IMO very well, it is that they don't care. They know they are putting our soldiers lives in danger with their protest, with their constant slander of the troops (gitmo, the soldeirs that have been found innocent but NO Dems comes back and said how wrong they were to accuse our soldiers etc.)

I mean it when I say the left is the enemy within and I will not give then an ounce of slack on how I blame them for our troops being injured, for being put into more dangerous situations because of how the media, the politicians on the left and the rhinos siding against the military and not letting them do what they need to do.