Russell wrote:Wage Slave wrote:Russell wrote:Because a large part of Daesh consisted of those 400,000 Sunni militaries that were put out of a job by Bremer et al.
So, there you have it, they are hardened fighters, with lots of military knowledge and experience. No wonder that Shia army didn't have a chance.
Now, what are we gonna do? Kill them all? Wouldn't it be easier to nuke the whole place?
Well, the coalition's forces in Iraq didn't have too many problems rolling them up so I find it hard to believe that they have suddenly become a professional and well disciplined army now. But yeah, you're right - why was so much given to the Shia? It's almost as though someone didn't really want Iraq to be successful. Far better for the security of the region if it stays weak, divided and poor - except for the few trusted puppets and their gangs of course.
We could nuke the whole place of course but moral questions aside, what a waste.
I made the nuke comment with some irony intended.
But what I really want to emphasize is that it is better to think through what the end result should be.
Just bombing the fuck out of them will be unlikely to result in a better situation if a political solution for Iraq and Syria remains unclear.
Personally, I think it is time to divide Iraq into separate states according to ethnic-religious lines, and give every group the responsibility to defends its own land even if it means they call in forces from other nations, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. Pretty much hands-off for the West, but imagine that, recruiting nations in the region to do the fighting.
Oh, BTW, that is what Bernie Sanders is actually proposing...
Hmmmm. We have a precedent in India, West Pakistan and East Pakistan as was. An unalloyed success it certainly wasn't. Vast numbers of people were caught on the wrong side of borders and got slaughtered trying to flee. There have been, what 3 wars between India and Pakistan with ongoing conflict in Kashmir. East Pakistan became Bangladesh in a civil war that India interfered in. It's been fairly quiet for a long time but could flare up again - simmering away really rather than quiet.
But yeah, not the craziest idea I've heard.
And yes, it's time the likes of Saudi, The UAE, Oman, Bahrain stepped up to the mark and contributed properly. But that would mean a major change in The Deal. I'd be in favour of that too but I'm not holding my breath.