Australian chief lashes US on Iraq

[The Sushi Bandit]

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

AUSTRALIA'S Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, has taken a swipe at the US military's strategy at the outset of the Iraq war, expressing disbelief that it has taken so long for commanders to realise the merits of engaging with the local population and winning their trust.

Visiting a counter-insurgency centre for excellence at Taji, just outside Baghdad, General Leahy was briefed by a US Army colonel, Manuel Diemer, on the new US strategy of schooling all unit commanders in the importance of developing a deep understanding of the culture of the communities in which they are conducting operations. Colonel Diemer said the strategy meant combat units were now living among the population, doing more foot patrols, talking and interacting with the population well before they undertook any offensive operations.

This contrasts with the previous US practice of sending in forces with overwhelming firepower into trouble spots and then returning home to the relative comforts and security of a military base after blasting their way out of, or into, trouble. The tactics have created huge resentment among ordinary Iraqis and helped fuel the insurgency. General Leahy expressed his strong support for the new strategy, but with an important, and thrice repeated, caveat. "I can't believe you guys weren't doing this two or three years ago," he said. Colonel Diemer concurred.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/australian-chief-lashes-us-on-iraq/2007/07/22/1185042950468.html

[jeff30997]

1. Far too late,idiots!

:grr:

[Ghost Dog]

2. Too right. That's still largely the case, even now,

even here in mainland (occupied, what with all them there bases?) Western Europe.

[melody]

3. They fired or silenced all the US military who would listen

Bush put in place all his suckerfish stupid cronies. There's no point in "lashing" them.