Hearts and Minds - US style

[IndianaGreen]

"Actually, I see 'hearts and minds' as a tactical doctrine. To me, it means that's where we should aim first," said Craig. " Shoot them in the body or in the head, but just make sure you shoot them first."

Hearts and minds is not just a slogan, it is a key goal in counter-insurgency warfare. If the people turn against you, there is no possibility of exacting military victory.

The following story out of Iraq shows that to the current US military leadership, hearts and minds is reduced to "shoot them in the body or in the head."

Hearts and Minds - US style

By Scott Taylor in Tikrit, Iraq

Thursday 27 November 2003, 15:55 Makka Time, 12:55 GMT

"We have two major factors effecting the ability for some of our troops to understand restraint," said Eddie Calis, the civilian security adviser at the US airbase at Kirkuk, in northern Iraq.

"One problem is that a lot of our soldiers are shit-scared and want to get out of here alive, no matter what that entails.

"The second and much less widespread issue is that of misplaced patriotism," said Calis, giving as an example one of the soldiers stationed at the Kirkuk airfield will soon be rotated back to America, and who feels that he has yet to fulfil his national duty.

"Every day he complains that he has not yet had the opportunity to kill an Iraqi, and do his bit for the war," explained Calis.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/84B9680B-55DF-4562-AFF3-093E94D3FBCB.htm

Be a good German, support the troops!

[maddezmom]

1. a few of those quoted

are probably "compassionate conservatives.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. The Guardsman

who works with my husband is one of those conservative guys. He still calls Clinton a traitor for having a student deferment, but, when asked about Bush going AWOL said that was ok, because he was a pilot (!!!!) Oh well, this same guy said Gore was a coward because he was in the Quartermaster Corps. This made me see red. My brother was in the Quartermaster Corps in 'Nam when he won his Silver Star-and he didn't get it because he made sure the turkeys were delivered on time for Thanksgiving, either. Anyway, to get back to the point-the Guardsman is going to Iraq sometime soon, and I shudder to think what he'll do. His attitude is to kill all of them A-rabs because they are all terrorists.

[camero]

5. It's ok because he was a pilot

With our Militaries reliance on air power, saying this is like saying the place kicker doesn't need to come to the football game.

[xchrom]

3. when i think of american culture

this is what i think of.
it should be eugene o'neil -- instead it's characters like these.
charming aren't they?
reminds of the ''only good indian is a dead indian''

[TahitiNut]

4. duplicate avoidance kick

[eablair3]

6. thanks for the post

interesting info.