A short war? I suspect not.

[The Ranger]

Also do not forget in 85 Isarel bombed SH Nuke plant, just months before it was to be completed....the USA condemed this attack.....Now, I guess we are thanking our lucky stars....

I also look for SH to fire missels into Isarel much the same as the Gulf War, however, Isarel has already stated they will respond with force this time....should prove interesting what the Arab Nations will do if this happens...

Ranger

 

[HumorMe]

Is New Zealand an actually country?

 

[The Ranger]

Sure is Frodo Baggins lives there....

Ranger

 

[HansNZ]

Is New Zealand an actually country?

It sounds like you are casting dispursions about where I live so that you can avoid discussing the issue we are debating.

At least you are not deflecting the topic onto my sexuality. That is usually what happens when people can't compete on facts.

 

[HansNZ]

Ahhh, so damnit we should've stayed out of WW2 and let the genocide continue. Should've stayed out of Bosnia as well.

Those are differnt conflicts. Don't deflect to avoid confronting the issue.

 

[jnuts]

Western powers should be more mindful of the dictators they support and arm in the future so that they do not create more Saddam Husseins.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend"

That's just politics as usual and not confined to the "Western" powers.

 

[Y_lifter]

Russia was into a Noncombative agreement with the Axis during WWII until they started getting combatted..

Then they changed teams.

Smart of them.
Just like the US did with Iran vs Iraq... Afghan vs Iran... etc

 

[HumorMe]

It sounds like you are casting dispursions about where I live so that you can avoid discussing the issue we are debating.

At least you are not deflecting the topic onto my sexuality. That is usually what happens when people can't compete on facts.

New Zealand's support for the war

They seemed kind of reluctant to join the war but after reading the last paragraph, it all comes in to view.

 

[HansNZ]

Re: Re: A short war? I suspect not.

Who will it radicalize? This is a very general statement.

It will radicalise many muslims who are sitting on the fence. I believe terrorist organisations will see a swelling of their ranks. It will swing general public opinion in the middle east away from the US even more, and probably towards favouring those whole advocate quite brutal and aggressive anti-american policies. Osama Bin Laden types will enjoy much more sympahy among the mainstream.

[how will it escalate] This too is very general. Be specific. otherwise it sound like America-bashing for the sake of doing so, rather than well-thought-out criticism.

I believe it is going to escalate in term of the Kurds, the Iranians, and the toppling of currently pro-american regimes such as the Saudis. The Israelis may become involved at some point. I also believe it will escalate in ways we haven't anticipated - the wild card.

It is not US Army doctrine to go door to door and clear eachbuilding. I did a lot of that when I was an Army Ranger andyou are right it is brutal. As such, Army doctrine is to flatten an entire city block with bombs, then clear it with troops. Much easier that way.

Well whether they go door to door or flatten entire city blocks, lots of civilians will be killed. I was seeing door-to-door fighting as causing a mess re: civilians. That was the problem I was refering to. Flattening city blocks will have the same effect on world opinion.

HansNZ wrote: Iraq is not as isolated now as it was in 1991. As much as people in the region hate Saddam there is going to be sympahy for Iraq WHEN things start getting bogged down.

MattTheSkyWalker replied: What is the consequence of this?

A spread of conflict beyond the Iraqi army and Saddam, esp. into the areas and populations/countries I mentioned earlier.

HansNZ wrote: I also think that as much as Saddam is hated the American's agenda in the region is despised more by those who live there.

MattTheSkyWalker replied: What is the consequence of this?

A spreading of conflict fueled by anti-american sentiment.

I see a quick decimation of opposing forces. The bogging down could ocme in the post-war time....that is the real challenge.

Well that's similar to what I mean. I suspect 95% of the Iraqi forces will be captured or killed quite quickly. It is the messy stuff that follows which will breed the problems. I doubt there will be a clean conclusion to this conflict.

 

[HansNZ]

New Zealand's support for the war

They seemed kind of reluctant to join the war but after reading the last paragraph, it all comes in to view.

LOL, the journalist who wrote that is dreaming. If Helen Clarke genuinely supported this war she'd be committing political suicide. What she is doing is trying not to alienate the Aussies or Americans too much because she is coming under pressure from Washington which is threatening not to include NZ in a free trade agreement.

What you are observing is the way small countries have to walk a thin line in international relations. Beacuse you live in a large country you are not familiar with this kind of political behaviour. I think you are also misinterpreting what you are reading, as well as sourcing your information from a rather ideologically charged doctrinaire publication putting its own communist spin on events.

In any case, my opinions are my own. I am not a spokesman for my country. I speak for myself. My opinions would be the same even if NZ supported this silly war. In any case, like John Howard in Australia such a policy would not reflect the will of the NZ public.