tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3350557848172150038.post4383352816698423617..comments2022-04-09T04:27:02.673-07:00Comments on Dr Frank Ellis: Frank Ledwidge, Losing Small Wars: British Military Failure in Iraq and AfghanistanSarah Maid of Albionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11685494924450312124noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3350557848172150038.post-13462269581310036362012-07-21T10:36:10.687-07:002012-07-21T10:36:10.687-07:00In USA,we know about Walt/Mearsheimer groundbrakin...In USA,we know about Walt/Mearsheimer groundbraking book:"The Israel Lobby".<br />What about this lobby in GB?Ole Johansennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3350557848172150038.post-57763725812555515962012-07-12T12:33:45.112-07:002012-07-12T12:33:45.112-07:00HI Sarah
Thanks for this review, certainly the mo...HI Sarah<br /><br />Thanks for this review, certainly the most comprehensive that has been done. I take your point about multiculturalism. If I gave the impression that muilticulturalism, which I agree is a damaging PC shibboleth, should be extended to our operations, then I should not have done. I take the matra of 'cultural awareness' with the essential pinch of salt it deserves. A six month course does not impart such a thing, if it indeed exists.<br /><br /><br />Similarly, your critique of my approach to the US is well taken. The point I wanted to get across was that at the very least the US approached the Iraq problem at the very least with a realist eye to the political. The Petreaus strategy can at least be argued to have been a strategy as it appreciated war as a political act. The same cannot be said for McChrysytal or Petreaus in Afghanistan. <br /><br />My approach to the US forces was intended to use them as a foil to ours, rather than a peaen to theirs. They have a whole raft of problems only some of which you summarise. <br /><br />You are the first person, including many NI former servicemen to have picked up the wrong date of bloody Sunday. No excuses there. <br /><br />Anyway, much appreciated, intelligent and well-informed and argued review. Thanks again<br /><br />All the best<br /><br />Frank LedwidgeFrank Ledwidgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3350557848172150038.post-2955306628799151762012-07-12T08:24:59.208-07:002012-07-12T08:24:59.208-07:00I agree and disagree with some of what you have sa...I agree and disagree with some of what you have said;<br /><br />Were attacks on Iraq and Afghanistan necessary; yes in the context of that time.<br /><br />Iraq had been an ongoing problem for some years. Hussein had demonstrated that he posed a serious threat to the stability of this region by his attack on Kuwait and subsequent war with Iran. This region has been a vital producer of oil for which much of the West has been dependent. We are not privy to MI6 intel and without sight of their material and that of the CIA it is impossible to be certain of the exact details of Hussein's intentions. We do know he had developed chemical weapons.<br /><br />The attack by al Queda operatives in several locations posed a serious threat to Western interests and the security of Britain and the USA. The attack on Afghanistan was necessary.<br /><br />Your analysis should be on post war planning. The attacks should have been punitive attacks with an emphasis to the governments and people to that effect. Destruction of strategic assets and host infrastructure should have sent a message that the West would not tolerate this aggression and destabilisation of our strategic interests and sovereignty.<br /><br />The West is so eroded by Neo-liberal standards that they cannot resist the imposition of their standards on other regions. <br /><br />What is so strange about the whole issue is that they see the danger of Islamic fundamentalists in Afghanistan and the threat posed to the West and yet they allow the very same cult plan and execute the same attacks out of Britain. This make no sense. Britain itself is quickly becoming a centre of international Islamic terrorism and yet these same people turn a blind eye to this threat.TigerOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07566476518257113667noreply@blogger.com