November 7th, 2012.
Dare I say.....
If I were one of the moderators on here, several folks would be getting a warning, however, I am not, so let's get down to brass tacks. Political speech is political speech, no matter how you cut it...take it somewhere else.
NOW, time for a reality check... The M-1 Abrams that we gave to Iraq will not be the equivalent of ours, even the US Army is wise enough to know its an unstable area. Further, as many folks here have said, the Abrams under the best conditions is a maintainers nightmare, and the Iraqi and Afghani sands will only make it worse. Besides gentlemen, the profits made on the export models should reduce our costs on our models considerably.
And as you might say, it isn't the size of the dog in the fight, but rather the fight in the dog.
Observe most wars fought historically in the Middle East during the 20th-21st centuries, have often found the native fighters (other then in guerilla warfare situations) losing miserably even when equipped with modern equipment and instructed by very competant instructors. Witness the two Mid-East wars between Egypt and Israel in the 1960's... A LOT of the information we received about Russian armor and air units came from captured examples of their equipment. The same will happen with anything the Chinese provide to that area, we'll be taking it apart shortly thereafter.
So the upshot is, to use General Patton's sage advice, is not for us to die for our country, but make a lot of those other poor dumb bastards die for THEIR country. As long as we are fighting people who are not willing to die for their country, in second rate equipment, life should be good for us.
However, it is well to not underestimate the fact that SOME of their people are willing to die for their country, wearing suicide vests or drive VIED's, creating casualties we are not willing to accept. They may fight a war lasting centuries, we are not willing to fight one lasting years, as we lack the intestinal fortitude to do so. And that is where the Mid-Eastern and Eastern minds do differ from ours, it may take generations, but they may well win.
Perhaps our generals and politicians need to reread both the "Art of War" by Sun Tzu, and perhaps even the Koran, to better understand just what we are working against, or rather, what's working against us. Both treatises will give great insights into the minds of our possible opponents, but please note also, when the war goes against them, the insurgents and the Al-Quaeda types usually take a hike and let the unprotected civillians who they have been usings as masks take the heat.... the "Freedom" fighters are often the ones who have the freedom to walk away.....
Just some food for your thoughts, gentlemen,
have a good day!
