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The failed 'turning points' of the Iraq war

Here is a list of events in Iraq that were seen as 'turning ...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/27/05
This is outstanding. 178.
Clear aphrodisiac principal's office kitty cat
  05/27/05
...
Vibrant idiotic boltzmann
  05/27/05
I'm going to have this post tatooed on my face.
Misunderstood drunken school cafeteria
  05/28/05
A classic.
Hyperventilating locus half-breed
  12/06/05
Update please.
Bateful deep state associate
  08/12/06
We're making real progress. And don't you forget it!
chestnut philosopher-king circlehead
  05/27/05
Bombings are signs of a 2-year-long desperate last gasp. Ca...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/27/05
Indeed. Every increase in violence is a sign of their growi...
chestnut philosopher-king circlehead
  05/27/05
I'm not worried. They're just a collection of dead-enders a...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/27/05
I think it's a few years too soon to determine whether all t...
low-t ticket booth travel guidebook
  05/27/05
Are you and your kind enjoying your decline into political i...
Well-lubricated orchestra pit
  05/27/05
you know that the more dominant you guys are now, the more d...
Ocher cracking goal in life
  05/27/05
Good luck with your wait. Its gonna be a LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG t...
Well-lubricated orchestra pit
  05/27/05
enjoy seeing the senate pass stem cell research over bush's ...
Ocher cracking goal in life
  05/27/05
I will actually. But thanks. Do you think that it is the D...
Well-lubricated orchestra pit
  05/28/05
There is one thing that would speed it the hell up: draft...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/27/05
What level of troops are currently needed in Iraq? Where ar...
Well-lubricated orchestra pit
  05/28/05
Because of plunging recruitment and the exhaustion of many G...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
petro, what are some good blogs on the war?
fear-inspiring hyperactive sex offender
  05/28/05
I'd look at the following places: -For pro-war military a...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
Please. It's coming much sooner than you think. Hopefully th...
Clear aphrodisiac principal's office kitty cat
  05/27/05
That sounds exactly like the crap coming out of the mouths o...
Well-lubricated orchestra pit
  05/28/05
The last election just proved that scaring people into think...
Milky Know-it-all Trust Fund Jew
  05/28/05
What is the point of this post? I don't mind being in the...
low-t ticket booth travel guidebook
  05/27/05
Just to piss off a few liberals, nothing more.
Well-lubricated orchestra pit
  05/28/05
It's not funny to make fun of our boys in uniform.
infuriating vivacious police squad
  05/28/05
But it is funny to make fun of the old men in suits ordering...
chestnut philosopher-king circlehead
  05/28/05
Get a life.
Boyish emerald becky
  05/28/05
the US military isn't there to end the insurgency. everyone...
Carnelian goyim shrine
  05/28/05
this is true
dead histrionic black woman
  05/28/05
valen, what do you foresee happening? do you think the US a...
Carnelian goyim shrine
  05/28/05
Those are not two separate issues. The insurgents keep f'in...
chestnut philosopher-king circlehead
  05/28/05
good point, i forgot about that. i don't think there's anyt...
Carnelian goyim shrine
  05/28/05
Yes. We want to spark democratic revolutions in the Middle ...
chestnut philosopher-king circlehead
  05/28/05
"if there's a revolution in saudi arabia." that...
Comical Sapphire Public Bath Hissy Fit
  05/28/05
Things can happen in the Middle East without AQ doing them.
chestnut philosopher-king circlehead
  05/28/05
Obviously. The point is that the royal family, though not w...
Comical Sapphire Public Bath Hissy Fit
  05/28/05
An external attack on the Royal Family might be condemned, b...
chestnut philosopher-king circlehead
  05/28/05
Internal, you mean a power play from within the house of Sau...
Comical Sapphire Public Bath Hissy Fit
  05/28/05
I meant a home-grown Islamic revolution ala Iran.
chestnut philosopher-king circlehead
  05/28/05
Iran went from a secular regime to an Islamic revolution. S...
Comical Sapphire Public Bath Hissy Fit
  05/28/05
Sure, groups LIKE AQ. But those could be homegrown.
chestnut philosopher-king circlehead
  05/28/05
Wouldnt you be thrilled if that happened? Maybe we could ge...
Well-lubricated orchestra pit
  05/28/05
AQ doesnt have an army or the ability to do anything truly s...
dead histrionic black woman
  05/28/05
Neither would a bunch of civilians who would be even worse w...
Comical Sapphire Public Bath Hissy Fit
  05/28/05
Right. Trading with Saddam and buying his oil without remov...
Well-lubricated orchestra pit
  05/28/05
I'm sure Saudi Arabia is already free and democratic.
chestnut philosopher-king circlehead
  05/28/05
because the saudis are our friends, jim.
Ocher cracking goal in life
  05/28/05
"Going to war was clearly the best way to get large amo...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
the point was to set up a police station because we can't tr...
Carnelian goyim shrine
  05/28/05
As soon as Israel is involved, you gotta get Iran, Pakistan,...
Comical Sapphire Public Bath Hissy Fit
  05/28/05
well maybe not venezuela, but yeah, that's what i meant by '...
Carnelian goyim shrine
  05/28/05
Those other nations, especially the Muslim nations, are not ...
Comical Sapphire Public Bath Hissy Fit
  05/28/05
close enough.
Carnelian goyim shrine
  05/28/05
'the US military isn't there to end the insurgency.' Howe...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
we're not going to 'leave with honor'. we're going to stay ...
Carnelian goyim shrine
  05/28/05
We are not going to keep 138,000 troops in Iraq. Most of th...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
PACOM? yes, there actually is going to be a severe oil cr...
Carnelian goyim shrine
  05/28/05
Pacific Command. Once China begins deploying thier deisel...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
over what, taiwan? i don't think we're going to go to war...
Carnelian goyim shrine
  05/28/05
Over the fact that they can shadow our forces around. You s...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
in a couple years i don't think that that's going to be a hu...
Carnelian goyim shrine
  05/28/05
A. what oil revenues are we collecting out of Iraq? What sho...
Provocative degenerate gaping
  05/28/05
Attacks by terrorists demonstrate a failure in Iraq to the s...
Provocative degenerate gaping
  05/28/05
What the fuck? How many US troops did those groups kill? ...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
Petro, unless you didn't notice the terrorists are focusing ...
Provocative degenerate gaping
  05/28/05
They focused enough so far to kill 72 troops this month alon...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
>They focused enough so far to kill 72 troops this month ...
Provocative degenerate gaping
  05/28/05
'other Iraqis are getting attacked in far greater numbers th...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
Make it the rate of policemen, army recruits, politicians ge...
Provocative degenerate gaping
  05/28/05
Right. That doesn't change the fact that our military postu...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
Because of that, if you consider a victory as only happening...
Provocative degenerate gaping
  05/28/05
' Baader Meinhof terrorizing everbody for a decade.' No t...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
"How many people did they kill in their entire run?&quo...
Provocative degenerate gaping
  05/28/05
A lot? We're talking about 800-1200 PER MONTH in Iraq.
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
gee no kidding
Provocative degenerate gaping
  05/28/05
"The terrorists want the new government out of power. T...
Clear aphrodisiac principal's office kitty cat
  05/28/05
'They want the Baathists back in control.' That's probabl...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
That's exactly what I was saying. Which for me, is the most ...
Clear aphrodisiac principal's office kitty cat
  05/28/05
' I don't see much that would quell this motivation for insu...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
Very true, like Afghanistan.
Clear aphrodisiac principal's office kitty cat
  05/28/05
>I think this doesn't fully encompass their objectives. T...
Provocative degenerate gaping
  05/28/05
Of course. But Bush and his administration knew all of this...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
That's a hell of a presumption!
Clear aphrodisiac principal's office kitty cat
  05/28/05
damn I wish - I think Iraq's winnable, I think it's better o...
Provocative degenerate gaping
  05/28/05
I don't think Halliburton had much to do with anything. ...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  05/28/05
"It's a hunch of mine I'll never see a policy expert ar...
Clear aphrodisiac principal's office kitty cat
  05/28/05
see bombing of the police station today.
Ocher cracking goal in life
  12/06/05
Zarqawibump
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  11/20/05
did you type out that original post or find it at some blog?
Razzle umber location boistinker
  11/20/05
It is my original work. I should probably update it to incl...
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  11/20/05
nice.
chrome spectacular bawdyhouse selfie
  11/20/05
Please make this into a T-shirt (like one of those Band tour...
exhilarant mustard spot
  11/20/05
Would it fit?
fighting seedy rehab striped hyena
  11/20/05
You're doin' a heckuva job, Petrie.
Cerebral grizzly persian generalized bond
  11/20/05
Beautiful
Talented Theater Stage Yarmulke
  12/06/05
...
Soul-stirring locale
  07/27/06
Saddam's upcoming execution.
disrespectful bbw
  12/28/06
This deserves an update.
pea-brained rusted set
  09/20/07
...
Debunked antisemitic trope
  11/03/26


Poast new message in this thread



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 7:51 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

Here is a list of events in Iraq that were seen as 'turning points' against enemy forces in the war, with a brief summary of why they worked:

-The fall of the Saddam statue (April 9, 2003)

Iraqis finally have control of their own destiny.

-The end of major combat operations (May 2, 2003)

'Mission Accomplished' - surprisingly enough, Bush was right. The Iraq insurgency ended right there and then.

-Operation Peninsula Strike (June 9-12, 2003)

The first big postwar raid netted 400 arrests. Fox News breathlessly reported on this 'crushing blow' to the insurgents. And they were right to do it - it killed the insurgency.

-Operation Desert Scorpion (June 15-29)

If Peninsula Strike didn't get them all, surely operations Sidewinder, Scorpion Sting, and Spartan Scorpion would, right? Operation Rifles Scorpion pacified Fallujah.

-The death of Uday and Qusay Hussein (July 22, 2003)

The insurgency died along with these two evil dudes, who organized the whole insurgency.

-The end of the 'long, hot summer' (September 2003)

People were only insurging because they were hot and bored. Combined with Operation Tiger Clean Sweep, the insurgency was brought to a decisive end.

-The capture of Saddam (December 15, 2003)

This will end the insurgency for damn sure.

-The 'containment' of al-Sadr's propaganda machine (March 28, 2004)

al-Sadr's inciteful newspaper al-Hawaz was shut down, thus ending the insurgency.

-The second pacification of Fallujah (April 2004)

With peace secured in Fallujah, the insurgency withered up and died.

-Pacification of the Sadr militia (April 2004)

Now Sadr has been pacified for sure. So has the insurgency.

-The transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi interim government (June 28, 2004)

People were only insurging because the government wasn't Iraqi.

-The second pacification of the Sadr militia (August 2004)

The first time was just a trial run. Now America got serious, and the insurgency ended.

-The end of the second long, hot summer (September 2004)

If at first you don't succeed...

-The pacification of Samarra (October 1-3, 2004)

Operation Baton Rouge scared the insurgents straight once and for all.

-The third pacification of Fallujah (November 2004)

Every insurgent in Iraq died in this battle.

-The Iraqi election (January 30, 2005)

Once Iraq got control of its government, the insurgents basically just disbanded.

-The formation of the newly-elected Iraqi government (April 3-7, 2005)

Now that all the government posts are filled, there is no reason to insurge.

-Operation Matador (May 7-15, 2005)

Turns out the real problem was the Syrian border. Glad we got that straightened out.

-Operation Lightning (May 23-29, 2005)

Along with Operation Squeeze Play, the new Iraqi Army uprooted all the insurgents from Baghdad - random acts of kindness replaced mortars and carbombs.

-Operation Restoring Rights (August 26-October 29, 2005)

Once we gave the people of Tal Afar their rights back, what need was there for an insurgency?

-The end of the third long, hot summer (September 2005)

Global warming made this one pretty bad. But then all the insurgents melted along with the winter rains.

-Operation Iron Fist (October 1-6, 2005)

Holy shit! With a name like Iron Fist, how can you NOT crush the insurgency? We did, and the earth laughs in flowers.

-Iraqi Constitutional referendum (October 15, 2005)

The problem was that Iraqis didn't have their own constitution. Without one of those, of COURSE you'll have insurgency. But not anymore - the referendum passed; the insurgents passed away.

-The trial of Saddam (October 19, 2005)

The insurgency happened because Saddam needs a trial. Once the proceedings began, people relaxed. What insurgency?

-Operation Steel Curtain (November 10-?, 2005)

The insurgents actually came from several little river towns near Syria. Their destruction gave America a startling Thanksgiving present - the end of combat operations in Iraq.

-Death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (November 20, 2005)

The insurgency was like a Jenga tower - yank out the right plank, and the whole thing topples. Zarqawi was the plank. Visit Baghdad.

In conclusion: We win!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2872645)



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 8:26 PM
Author: Clear aphrodisiac principal's office kitty cat

This is outstanding. 178.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2872834)



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 8:28 PM
Author: Vibrant idiotic boltzmann
Subject: ditto.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2872855)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 4:18 AM
Author: Misunderstood drunken school cafeteria

I'm going to have this post tatooed on my face.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876452)



Reply

Date: December 6th, 2005 11:24 PM
Author: Hyperventilating locus half-breed

A classic.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#4483369)



Reply

Date: August 12th, 2006 8:20 PM
Author: Bateful deep state associate

Update please.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#6428128)



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 7:53 PM
Author: chestnut philosopher-king circlehead

We're making real progress. And don't you forget it!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2872659)



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 7:54 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

Bombings are signs of a 2-year-long desperate last gasp. Can you imagine gasping that long? They must be really weak by now.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2872663)



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 7:56 PM
Author: chestnut philosopher-king circlehead

Indeed. Every increase in violence is a sign of their growing desperation.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2872667)



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 7:57 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

I'm not worried. They're just a collection of dead-enders and Fedayeen.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2872674)



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 8:15 PM
Author: low-t ticket booth travel guidebook

I think it's a few years too soon to determine whether all this blood shed and a trillion dollars was a good idea.

But the public grows increasingly skeptical, and, right or wrong policy-wise, that's going to exert increasing pressure on law makers to get us the fuck out of Iraq.

To those who suggest that comparisons to Vietnam are phony and intellectually dishonest, I disagree. In fact, Iraq is far more consequential than Vietnam, since our invasion announces an aggressive new doctrine rather than exists as a small piece of an otherwise prudent doctrine (containment of communism).

Whatever the ultimate consequences of our (it turns out, ill-founded) attack, you'd have to be an idiot to think this administration has carried out occupation with sufficient effectiveness and moral authority to serve as the foundation to realizing neo-con fantasies about reforming the Middle East. Rumsfeld and intelligence chiefs should have long since been fired. Yet the bumbling administration leaders aim their guns at Newsweek.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2872768)



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 8:21 PM
Author: Well-lubricated orchestra pit

Are you and your kind enjoying your decline into political irrelevance?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2872798)



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 8:24 PM
Author: Ocher cracking goal in life

you know that the more dominant you guys are now, the more dominant we will be when things go completely to shit. in fact, ole Harrison and I will be reviled as out of touch conservatives in the coming order.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2872817)



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 8:27 PM
Author: Well-lubricated orchestra pit

Good luck with your wait. Its gonna be a LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2872839)



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 8:29 PM
Author: Ocher cracking goal in life

enjoy seeing the senate pass stem cell research over bush's veto, fag.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2872860)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:11 AM
Author: Well-lubricated orchestra pit

I will actually. But thanks. Do you think that it is the Dems by themselves that are responsible for that? Get your head out of your ass and stop believing that ALL republicans hold the same views as its extremists.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876713)



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 8:38 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

There is one thing that would speed it the hell up:

draft.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2872921)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:11 AM
Author: Well-lubricated orchestra pit

What level of troops are currently needed in Iraq? Where are they needed and what will they do?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876715)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 4:58 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

Because of plunging recruitment and the exhaustion of many Guard and Reserve units, if we have to keep 140,000 people in Iraq by the fall of 2006, we will be in some amount of trouble.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878068)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:04 PM
Author: fear-inspiring hyperactive sex offender

petro, what are some good blogs on the war?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878099)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:17 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

I'd look at the following places:

-For pro-war military analysis-

The Belmont Club:

http://www.fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/

-For more critical analysis-

Phil Carter's Intel Dump:

http://philcarter.blogspot.com/

For everything else:

http://www.wordsfromiraq.com

Click through the sidelinks. Kurdo's World and Star from Mosul especially.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878148)



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 8:52 PM
Author: Clear aphrodisiac principal's office kitty cat

Please. It's coming much sooner than you think. Hopefully the right continues with its smug assertions of complete dominance until the midterm elections. All of this overreaching can only help the left.

It's also notable that the above poster said nothing to rebut Petro's OP.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2873038)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:20 AM
Author: Well-lubricated orchestra pit

That sounds exactly like the crap coming out of the mouths of democrats up and until about 9pm est. on November 2, 2004. Everything is going wrong (according to democrats, at least) and yet they still get their asses kicked at the polls.

There is no point in rebutting anything in petro's OP. Most of it is correct.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876738)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:15 PM
Author: Milky Know-it-all Trust Fund Jew

The last election just proved that scaring people into thinking the left wants to nice little Republican boys and girls into homosexuals and tarring your opponents as traitors still has a lot of oomph. That, and the fact that far too many people are still unclear about the fact that they are voting for theocrats.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878141)



Reply

Date: May 27th, 2005 8:36 PM
Author: low-t ticket booth travel guidebook

What is the point of this post?

I don't mind being in the minority right now, for various reasons.

This past week hardly suggests irrelevance, however.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2872910)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:23 AM
Author: Well-lubricated orchestra pit

Just to piss off a few liberals, nothing more.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876745)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 2:39 AM
Author: infuriating vivacious police squad

It's not funny to make fun of our boys in uniform.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876119)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 7:54 AM
Author: chestnut philosopher-king circlehead

But it is funny to make fun of the old men in suits ordering those boys into battle.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876581)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:21 AM
Author: Boyish emerald becky

Get a life.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876588)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 9:09 AM
Author: Carnelian goyim shrine

the US military isn't there to end the insurgency. everyone knows the given reasons for invasion were false - we're there as part of a strategic opening gambit to secure the dwindling oil reserves. our georgetown cadet tuba leiter can tell you that.

nobody who knows anything - i.e. not fox news, ny times, other propaganda - thinks that pacifying iraq is our primary objective.

so your argument is strong, petro, and your argument is good - but it's an argument against the ignorant.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876604)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 9:22 AM
Author: dead histrionic black woman

this is true

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876614)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:12 PM
Author: Carnelian goyim shrine

valen, what do you foresee happening? do you think the US and russia will go to blows? what do you think about all the US bases in the caspian republics?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878129)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 9:34 AM
Author: chestnut philosopher-king circlehead

Those are not two separate issues. The insurgents keep f'ing with the oil infrastructure.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876629)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 9:58 AM
Author: Carnelian goyim shrine

good point, i forgot about that. i don't think there's anything we can do, though - pipelines are extremely hard to defend.

we're really fucked, though, if there's a revolution in saudi arabia.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876681)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:02 AM
Author: chestnut philosopher-king circlehead

Yes. We want to spark democratic revolutions in the Middle East, but not all revolutions would be in our favor. Those darn unintended consequences of war ...

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876689)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:08 AM
Author: Comical Sapphire Public Bath Hissy Fit

"if there's a revolution in saudi arabia."

that's unlikely in the foreseeable future. AQ hates the royal family. Many people are not happy with the royal family. The royal family even has its own army and police that are separate from the national police and army. so, why doesn't AQ attack the royal family? The answer is simple: AQ won't do it because an attack on the royal family would still be hugely unpopular.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876706)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:12 AM
Author: chestnut philosopher-king circlehead

Things can happen in the Middle East without AQ doing them.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876716)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:18 AM
Author: Comical Sapphire Public Bath Hissy Fit

Obviously. The point is that the royal family, though not well-loved, is still popular enough that an attack on it would be condemned by the population. I don't see any kind of successful or popular revolution in saudi arabia occuring unless the US or another foreign power were to withdraw aid for SA and support the opposition. If the US did that, though, there would be utter chaos as a result - and I mean from all the other Arab and Muslim nations.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876733)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:20 AM
Author: chestnut philosopher-king circlehead

An external attack on the Royal Family might be condemned, but an internal revolution? That is a different story.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876737)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:22 AM
Author: Comical Sapphire Public Bath Hissy Fit

Internal, you mean a power play from within the house of Saud? I doubt that the leader would dissolve relations with the US, which really helps prop up the house with all kinds of support.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876742)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:27 AM
Author: chestnut philosopher-king circlehead

I meant a home-grown Islamic revolution ala Iran.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876752)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:32 AM
Author: Comical Sapphire Public Bath Hissy Fit

Iran went from a secular regime to an Islamic revolution. SA is already decidedly Islamic. It would only be a matter of groups like AQ that would want a further Islamic revolution.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876766)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:56 AM
Author: chestnut philosopher-king circlehead

Sure, groups LIKE AQ. But those could be homegrown.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876825)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:34 AM
Author: Well-lubricated orchestra pit

Wouldnt you be thrilled if that happened? Maybe we could get Carter to run again...

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876771)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:13 AM
Author: dead histrionic black woman

AQ doesnt have an army or the ability to do anything truly serious. A bunch of allah lovers who cant shoot for shit are not going to defeat the Saudi security forces.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876717)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:16 AM
Author: Comical Sapphire Public Bath Hissy Fit

Neither would a bunch of civilians who would be even worse with weapons, if we assume that they could even get their hands on weapons.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876731)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:28 AM
Author: Well-lubricated orchestra pit

Right. Trading with Saddam and buying his oil without removing him from power wouldnt have been a more secure and profitable option. Going to war was clearly the best way to get large amounts of cheap oil. The cost in lives and $ is more than offset by the cheap oil we are now receiving from iraq.

I wonder why we didnt just invade SA. They have far more oil than does Iraq.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876755)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:31 AM
Author: chestnut philosopher-king circlehead

I'm sure Saudi Arabia is already free and democratic.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876764)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 10:38 AM
Author: Ocher cracking goal in life

because the saudis are our friends, jim.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2876778)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:03 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

"Going to war was clearly the best way to get large amounts of cheap oil. "

It's not like Saddam was holding out on us.

And now that WE manage the oil, we have to deal with this shit:

http://www.iags.org/iraqpipelinewatch.htm

Furthermore, we are LOSING the war against IEDs:

http://icasualties.org/oif/IED.aspx

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878095)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:04 PM
Author: Carnelian goyim shrine

the point was to set up a police station because we can't trust the israelis to do it all on their own. we're there not just for iraqi oil but for the whole region. we're gearing up for a big fight coming - who knows how it will play out, but certainly europe, israel, russia, china, the arabs, and probably india will be involved.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878101)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:09 PM
Author: Comical Sapphire Public Bath Hissy Fit

As soon as Israel is involved, you gotta get Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the other OPEC nations involved.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878121)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:26 PM
Author: Carnelian goyim shrine

well maybe not venezuela, but yeah, that's what i meant by 'the arabs'.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878193)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:28 PM
Author: Comical Sapphire Public Bath Hissy Fit

Those other nations, especially the Muslim nations, are not all Arabic.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878200)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:36 PM
Author: Carnelian goyim shrine

close enough.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878251)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:21 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

'the US military isn't there to end the insurgency.'

However, before we can 'leave with honor,' we ARE going to have to bring the insurgency down to a much lower level, one which the new Iraqi security forces can manage. Otherwise, we will be repeating Israel's experience in its 2000 Lebanon withdrawl - which is to say, handing the insurgents a decisive victory.

Our goal was to conquer Iraq in a couple months and then have a large strategic footprint from which to pressure Iran, Syria, etc.

Instead, that has been turned on its head. Those nations are no longer afriad of US ground intervention as long as US forces are mired in Iraq. They have successfully shown their own populations that the price of democracy may be unbearable.

That's too bad, since Afghanistan is doing a lot better.

Any victory in Iraq now will be seen as one snatched from the jaws of defeat.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878165)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:26 PM
Author: Carnelian goyim shrine

we're not going to 'leave with honor'. we're going to stay as long as feasible in order to protect our very consumptive way of life.

when this (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4287300/) happens, all hell is going to break loose.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878189)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:28 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

We are not going to keep 138,000 troops in Iraq. Most of them will have to 'leave with honor,' leaving behind a small footprint of firebases.

The main problem is that Iraq isn't even a very important war. It's just a distraction in a sandbox, when the real action will take place in PACOM's domain.

That being said, if there actually is a severe oil crisis, I will do my part by molotoving as many SUVs as I can find.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878204)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:31 PM
Author: Carnelian goyim shrine

PACOM?

yes, there actually is going to be a severe oil crisis, probably within a year. look into it.

lifeaftertheoilcrash.net

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878217)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:32 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

Pacific Command.

Once China begins deploying thier deisel subs, we will have a lot more on our hands in that theater.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878221)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:36 PM
Author: Carnelian goyim shrine

over what, taiwan?

i don't think we're going to go to war over the south china sea, and japan can take care of itself.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878247)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:38 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

Over the fact that they can shadow our forces around. You should read Kagan's article in the Atlantic this month. He goes into some detail about all of this. The threat isn't war, it's the slow displacement of American influence from that theater.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878254)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 5:51 PM
Author: Carnelian goyim shrine

in a couple years i don't think that that's going to be a huge priority for us any more.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878326)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 6:40 PM
Author: Provocative degenerate gaping

A. what oil revenues are we collecting out of Iraq? What shows that this money is coming to us?

B. if we open up more oil wells and we don't get the profits from it, this brings down the cost of oil. It would hurt our companies.

C. if this isn't a move by Bush and Cheney for their own personal gain, but just a war to improve the US position vis a vis oil - the entire GDP of Iraq, much less the benefits the country gets (and we would snatch) from drilling for oil, is a fraction of the cost of going to war.

D. I still haven't received my share of the loot yet. Who the f's welching on me?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878648)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 6:10 PM
Author: Provocative degenerate gaping

Attacks by terrorists demonstrate a failure in Iraq to the same extent the Baader Meinhof Gang and werewolves demonstrated failures in West Germany.

if you want to argue that, I'll buy the argument against Iraq.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878457)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 7:16 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

What the fuck? How many US troops did those groups kill?

Go get yourself a Baghdad apartment, drive around, and live there like a normal person.

If it's as stable as West Germany was, this won't be a problem.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878840)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 7:22 PM
Author: Provocative degenerate gaping

Petro, unless you didn't notice the terrorists are focusing on killing other Iraqis.

That's why I find the idea of this as an insurgency against US troops hard to back up. If every soldier leaves tomorrow, that won't make them happy. If every soldier stayed, but the Baathists were put back in power, attacks would plummet.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878863)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 7:23 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

They focused enough so far to kill 72 troops this month alone.

That means we can't reduce troop levels anytime soon.

That is not good news no matter how you look at it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878870)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 7:29 PM
Author: Provocative degenerate gaping

>They focused enough so far to kill 72 troops this month alone.<

Which does nothing to change what I wrote - other Iraqis are getting attacked in far greater numbers than US soldiers are.

The Baathists don't like getting kicked out of power and losing the perks they got from it.

They don't like US soldiers there only to the extent that we keep them from intimidating everybody and coming back into power. The same was true for the werewolves.

If you want to call one a failure, you better prepared to say the same thing of another (at least until we stopped those terrorist attacks).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878900)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 7:32 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

'other Iraqis are getting attacked in far greater numbers than US soldiers are.'

Actually, though more Iraqis in total get killed, remember that there are only 138,000 US troops in Iraq.

If insurgents killed ordinary Iraqis at the same rate they killed US troops, they'd be killing 15,000 Iraqis per month instead of 800.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878913)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 7:40 PM
Author: Provocative degenerate gaping

Make it the rate of policemen, army recruits, politicians getting killed. You only need to intimidate anybody thinking of collaborating. If you're going to get killed no matter what you do, it loses its effect.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878958)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 7:42 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

Right. That doesn't change the fact that our military posture is fucked unless we can draw down forces by the end of 2006 without having that look like a defeat.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2878972)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:00 PM
Author: Provocative degenerate gaping

Because of that, if you consider a victory as only happening if there are no more terrorist attacks there's no way we would ever win.

Everybody on this board would consider Iraq a success if we made it as stable as W Germany in the 60s. Toss in a group that decides they can't get what they want without violence, though, and you have Baader Meinhof terrorizing everbody for a decade. Even with US troops stationed there.

If we're waiting just for the other side to give up and get demoralized/if we say that the only way they can lose is if they decide not to attack us - then we're using the same strategy we used in Vietnam and we'll get the same result.

Our goal isn't just to stop terrorist attacks, it's to keep the terrorists from getting what they want. The terrorists want the new government out of power. They want the Baathists back in control. If we stop that from happening, if free elections keep taking place, and it at least is stable enough that life in general around the country improves, then we win.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879070)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:04 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

' Baader Meinhof terrorizing everbody for a decade.'

No they didn't. How many people did they kill in their entire run? Probably fewer than die on a good day in Iraq.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879098)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:08 PM
Author: Provocative degenerate gaping

"How many people did they kill in their entire run?"

no clue

either way, I said terrorizing not killing 'em all. I'll stick with it.

I would match up werewolf numbers with Iraq, but the history of that has become so politicized in the past couple years I'm sure someone could find a site to argue whatever I include. The total was less, but it was a lot.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879119)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:11 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

A lot?

We're talking about 800-1200 PER MONTH in Iraq.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879124)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:15 PM
Author: Provocative degenerate gaping

gee no kidding

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879145)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:12 PM
Author: Clear aphrodisiac principal's office kitty cat

"The terrorists want the new government out of power. They want the Baathists back in control. If we stop that from happening, if free elections keep taking place, and it at least is stable enough that life in general around the country improves, then we win."

I think this doesn't fully encompass their objectives. There are those who would like to reestablish Sunni dominance, but probably more whose primary motivation is Iraqi nationalism/hatred of America and the west. I don't see much that would quell this motivation for insurgency, short of leaving.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879129)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:15 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

'They want the Baathists back in control.'

That's probably not true of all insurgents, either.

A lot of them just want to show that, even without a proper army, you can defeat America if you are persistent and trust in Allah.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879149)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:16 PM
Author: Clear aphrodisiac principal's office kitty cat

That's exactly what I was saying. Which for me, is the most telling analogue between Iraq and Vietnam: it's tough to fight an opponent of nationalist motivations.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879150)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:17 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

' I don't see much that would quell this motivation for insurgency, short of leaving.'

That might empower rather than quell them.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879153)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:27 PM
Author: Clear aphrodisiac principal's office kitty cat

Very true, like Afghanistan.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879198)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:26 PM
Author: Provocative degenerate gaping

>I think this doesn't fully encompass their objectives. There are those who would like to reestablish Sunni dominance, but probably more whose primary motivation is Iraqi nationalism/hatred of America and the west. I don't see much that would quell this motivation for insurgency, short of leaving.<

>That's probably not true of all insurgents, either.

A lot of them just want to show that, even without a proper army, you can defeat America if you are persistent and trust in Allah.<

That’s the thing I mentioned-if it’s just hatred of the West, they ought to be doing this differently. People are obviously carrying out attacks for more than one reason, though.

It's a hunch of mine I'll never see a policy expert argue, but when you get away from the people who are ordering attacks and coordinating it and just focus on a lower class Iraqi who places a bomb somewhere - I'd be willing to bet the biggest motivating factor is money. They can receive a bounty which is a hell of lot of money considering the average Iraqi's income. The people carrying out these attacks can be completely indifferent to the goals. If you tossed all the political factors aside, but a few people who don't like the new government were still paying that bounty, you'll still get attacks.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879196)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:29 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

Of course. But Bush and his administration knew all of this would happen going in. So presumably they had a plan ready to deal with it. Now they need to deploy that plan, because we need to draw down troop levels soon. No more joking around like they have been since May 2003. That was fun, but let's be serious.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879203)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:31 PM
Author: Clear aphrodisiac principal's office kitty cat

That's a hell of a presumption!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879218)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:36 PM
Author: Provocative degenerate gaping

damn I wish - I think Iraq's winnable, I think it's better off, I don't think Bush launched this whole war to benefit Halliburton - my objections may be different than your objections, but my confidence in 'em leaves something to be desired

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879236)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:42 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

I don't think Halliburton had much to do with anything.

I think this was meant to be Afghanistan Part Deux. The plan was for the US military to come in from the south, through the port of Umm Qasr up into Basra toward Baghdad, then from the north from Turkey through Dohuk and Mosul down the now-notorious Tikrit Highway. With the help of the Kurds and anti-Saddam Shia, the plan was to quickly crumble the government then use Chalabi and other figures to help set up a new one that would become a stable democracy.

I think think the plan was shamefully naive.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879280)



Reply

Date: May 28th, 2005 8:30 PM
Author: Clear aphrodisiac principal's office kitty cat

"It's a hunch of mine I'll never see a policy expert argue, but when you get away from the people who ordering attacks and coordinating it and just focus on a lower class Iraqi who places a bomb somewhere - I'd be willing to bet the biggest motivating factor is money. They can receive a bounty which is a hell of lot of money considering the average Iraqi's income. If you tossed all the political factors aside, but a few people who don't like the new government were still paying that bounty, you'll still get attacks. "

Very true. For example, when people were turning in their countrymen to the US military during the Afghanistan invasion, they weren't doing it out of some love for the US. It was for the cash rewards being offered for capture of Taliban members. This had its own effect of imprisoning many innocent goatherders in the shadowy constellation of prisons the CIA maintains worldwide.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#2879212)



Reply

Date: December 6th, 2005 11:30 PM
Author: Ocher cracking goal in life

see bombing of the police station today.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#4483434)



Reply

Date: November 20th, 2005 3:25 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

Zarqawibump

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#4339902)



Reply

Date: November 20th, 2005 3:27 PM
Author: Razzle umber location boistinker

did you type out that original post or find it at some blog?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#4339924)



Reply

Date: November 20th, 2005 3:29 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

It is my original work. I should probably update it to include all the other operations out near Syria that have happened since May.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#4339937)



Reply

Date: November 20th, 2005 3:29 PM
Author: chrome spectacular bawdyhouse selfie

nice.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#4339934)



Reply

Date: November 20th, 2005 3:26 PM
Author: exhilarant mustard spot

Please make this into a T-shirt (like one of those Band tour t-shirts) on http://www.cafepress.com/ and I will buy it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#4339919)



Reply

Date: November 20th, 2005 4:09 PM
Author: fighting seedy rehab striped hyena

Would it fit?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#4340237)



Reply

Date: November 20th, 2005 4:10 PM
Author: Cerebral grizzly persian generalized bond

You're doin' a heckuva job, Petrie.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#4340241)



Reply

Date: December 6th, 2005 11:27 PM
Author: Talented Theater Stage Yarmulke

Beautiful

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#4483387)



Reply

Date: July 27th, 2006 12:24 AM
Author: Soul-stirring locale



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#6310516)



Reply

Date: December 28th, 2006 8:38 PM
Author: disrespectful bbw

Saddam's upcoming execution.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#7308737)



Reply

Date: September 20th, 2007 12:19 PM
Author: pea-brained rusted set

This deserves an update.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#8666724)



Reply

Date: November 3rd, 2026 4:14 PM
Author: Debunked antisemitic trope



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=188886&forum_id=2#50226881)