The Next Act: William S. Lind

[gnjsdad]

William S. Lind of the Free Congress Foundation lays out the sobering possibilities stemming from the Iraq War.

1. The likelihoood of Al Qaeda’s next attack (they offered a truce which we should have accepted)
2. The growing restiveness of the Shiites in Iraq.
3. The coming war with Iran

Pertaining to which…

Washington will assume Iran will respond with some air and missile strikes of its own. Those may occur, but Iran has far more effective ways of replying. It can shut down its own oil exports and, with mining and naval action, those of Kuwait and the Gulf States as well. It can ramp up the guerilla wars both in Iraq and in Afghanistan.

*It could also do something that would come as a total surprise to Washington and cross the Iran-Iraq border with four to six divisions, simply rolling up the American army of occupation in Iraq. Syria might well join in, knowing that it is only a question of time before it is attacked anyway. We have no field army in Iraq at this point; our troops are dispersed fighting insurgents. A couple dozen Scuds on the Green Zone would decapitate our leadership (possibly to our benefit). Yes, our air power would be a problem, but only until the Iranians got in close. Bad weather could provide enough cover for that. So could the Iranian and Syrian air forces, so long as they were willing to expend themselves. Our Air Force can be counted on to fight the air battle first. *

 

[gilliam]

1. 
   *]I know of no world leaders talking about attacking Iran
   *]Iraq is headed towards a National Unity government.
   *]The truce al-Qaeda wanted would have given them free run of Iraq and Afghanistan. Some truce!

 

[gnjsdad]

gilliam:

1. 
   *]I know of no world leaders talking about attacking Iran

1. 
   Both the US and Israel have threatened to do it.
   
   
   gilliam:
   

   Iraq is headed towards a National Unity government.

   a government that exists only with the sufferance of the Shiite and Kurdish militias.
   1. 
      *]
      giliam:
      

      The truce al-Qaeda wanted would have given them free run of Iraq and Afghanistan. Some truce!

      A truce which could also avert a terrroist strike on US soil.

 

[gilliam]

gnjsdad:

Both the US and Israel have threatened to do it.

Give me a quote where the US has said they would invade Iran. You can’t because we haven’t. This is simply hot air.

.

a government that exists only with the sufferance of the Shiite and Kurdish militias.

Just like our government only existed with the sufferance of the Virginia and Mass militias.

.

A truce which could also avert a terrroist strike on US soil.

No, it was meant to allowed them to rearm, regroup and recruite. It was offered as a temporary, not a permanent, truce. You need to read the Koran and what he said. Their goals have not changed.

 

[gnjsdad]

gilliam:

Give me a quote where the US has said they would invade Iran. You can’t because we haven’t. This is simply hot air.

I’m talking about attacking through air strikes, not necessarily invading Iran. Watch Fox News just about any day and you’ll see some retired military type showing you what the targets in Iran are.

.

gilliam:

Just like our government only existed with the sufferance of the Virginia and Mass militias.

Totally different situations. First, our state militias had no foreign occupying army hovering over them. Second, our states realized the overriding necessity of coming together for a common purpose. The Iraqi militias seem only out for themselves.

.

gilliam:

No, it was meant to allowed them to rearm, regroup and recruite. It was offered as a temporary, not a permanent, truce. You need to read the Koran and what he said. Their goals have not changed.

I know what he said. Their history has been that they offer a truce before launching a big attack.

 

[gilliam]

gnjsdad:

I’m talking about attacking through air strikes, not necessarily invading Iran. Watch Fox News just about any day and you’ll see some retired military type showing you what the targets in Iran are.

Come on, gnjsdad, give me a quote where the US has said we would invade or militarily strike Iran. You can’t because we haven’t. This is simply hot air. And I don’t care how many retired military types or anti-war posters spew it. The United States has not said we would invade or strike Iran in any military way. Quit the spin.

Totally different situations. First, our state militias had no foreign occupying army hovering over them. Second, our states realized the overriding necessity of coming together for a common purpose. The Iraqi militias seem only out for themselves.

The Iraqis are coming together for a common purpose and it looks very likely that they will have a national unity government. You should be cheering them on instead of dissing them.

I know what he said. Their history has been that they offer a truce before launching a big attack.

We will be attacked again. As long as al-Qaeda exists you can count on it. We would be attacked eventually if we accepted their temporary truce as well. But by then, they would have tried to take over all of Iraq and Afghanistan and we would be in a worse position than now.

 

[rlg94086]

A couple dozen Scuds on the Green Zone would decapitate our leadership (possibly to our benefit).

I was going to look up Lind to see who he is, but after reading the section you quoted there is no need. That one sentence tells me all I need to know about him.

 

[gilliam]

rlg94086:

I was going to look up Lind to see who he is, but after reading the section you quoted there is no need. That one sentence tells me all I need to know about him.

The guy starts out with bogus assumptions and then goes downhill from there.

I don’t mind debate, but you need to start with reality, not his wishful thinking.

 

[gnjsdad]

gilliam:

I don’t mind debate, but you need to start with reality, not his wishful thinking.

Wishful thinking? Are you saying you think he’s hoping for the scenarios he’s laid out?

Btw, the entire Iraq War is one big case of wishful thinking, IMHO.

 

[gilliam]

gnjsdad:

Wishful thinking? Are you saying you think he’s hoping for the scenarios he’s laid out?.

Yes

gnjsdad:

Btw, the entire Iraq War is one big case of wishful thinking, IMHO.

I have faith in human nature, and I am not prejudiced against Iraqis or Muslims. They want freedom, and I have faith that in the end they will be free.