The Times Online posts an article from the Sunday Times about the defensive preparations of the various terrorist and insurgent forces in Fallujah.
They seem awfully confident in their abilities, all speaking of how the Coalition will be humbled by their “unconventional tactics” and precise planning. Here’s an except which sums up their point of view neatly.
One insurgent commander was in no doubt that his men would make an implacable enemy. “You will hear of unconventional tactics being used in Falluja,” he said.
“We are very confident of our preparations.”
The interviews sound like just about every laughable boast from terrorists we’ve encountered so far concerning America’s armed forces, “The streets will run red with blood”, “we will crush them” etc.
The result is inevitably the same - the most powerful army in the world kicks the ever-loving crap out of all and sundry in a firm demonstration of how adherence to unconventional tactical doctrines doens’t amount to a pile of beans against a well trained post-somalia army. The US Armed forces learned how to fight asymmetric warfare in Vietnam in which it excelled and ultimately won a resounding military victory in beating back the Tet offensive.
Where were the 30,000 dead in the assault on Baghdad, or Fallujah before a peaceful settlement was thought to have been reached? Where were the mass casualties when marines captured Samarra?
At the end of the day, if you’re stupid enough to believe you can take on the might of the American armed forces in an urban theatre then there’s a smart munition with your name on it.
Who cares how many suicide bomb-laden cars you have dotted around your city waiting to strike when the Army has ordered Spectre gunships to take out any mobile non-coalition vehicle spotted?
RPGs against Apache helicopter gunships? Do you know how many rocket propelled grenades have been fired at US helicopter gunships and how many have actually gone down to enemy fire? Not bloody many.
The MSM has for the most part greatly exaggerated the insurgency’s military prowess and it has only done us favours.
It’s time for the US military to show exactly what M.O.U.T. American-style means.
Later
John
(PS, many thanks to See Lai for the linkage)
Posted by John Swaine at November 7, 2004 03:24 AM | TrackBack