Reply #24: K&R'd

[maine_raptor]

A very good analysis, GreenZoneLT.

But I do think that there is one small problem with it. Petraeus doesn't have a year to 18 months to see if it will work. He's got 6 months, tops. Beyond that American public opinion will not stand for the additional casualties that his strategy will generate. As more and more of our soldiers and Marines are killed and maimed, the public outcry to bring our troops home will grow louder.

There is the additional problem of just where the troops will come from. Latest reports are that only about 9,000 troops are available for a "surge". To get a larger number of boots on the ground will require one of two things; either a draw-down of troops in other parts of the world, or a draft. While moving troops from one part of the world to Iraq could be done relatively quickly, it endangers our commitments to those parts we are leaving behind. And as for a draft: even if one could be implemented right away, it would still take longer to get the new recruits trained and equipped than Petraeus has to get his plan functional.

Hopefully you and your comrades can keep your heads down and stay safe until then.