What should we do??

[MEGR]

I'm not sure if this was posted as a past topic, but I have one question regarding this post war era; what should we do?? What should the US and UK forces do to help smoothe things out?? Should we use more SOF, or what??

[Pook2]

GET THE **** OUT! :|

[cut]

lower the profile of raids, put a lot of money into getting iraq back on its feet this decade and publicise this heavily in iraq..

[Seiyuuki]

Don't we have some sort of P.R. unit in the military?

[Beowulf]

yeah I think they're called Civil Affairs, plus the marines have some sort of loudspeaker unit I keep reading about in the news.....hahahaha....sigh...
beowulf

[maw]

i believe the loudspeaker unit you speak of is currently serving as a "motivational adjustment device", and can currently be found playing Wagner's "Ride Of The Valkyrie" above najaf.

with regards to the original question, we need to establish a transitional ( did i say puppet?) law and order infrastructure consisting of natives as quickly as possible. those guys can then go about cracking skulls and generaly distributing hate and discontent without any overt media attention as is the case presently.

[SABER 2-3]

We could start by giving them that little country to the south that they wanted so bad in 91, call it...nation building. Or better yet lets give it to the Kurds, call that...payback.

[Gringo]

i believe the loudspeaker unit you speak of is currently serving as a "motivational adjustment device", and can currently be found playing Wagner's "Ride Of The Valkyrie" above najaf.

*thinks back to Apocalypse Now*

"I love the smell of Napalm in the morning"

[Seiyuuki]

You know...we should do this and we should do that...BUT WHAT ABOUT THE IRAQIS? Last I check, it was still their country...they should become more involve.

For example, the trash problem, I mean, do you really need the U.S. military forces to deal with the trash problem. I don't care if you like having foreign soldiers in your country or not, I don't care if you're Sunni or Kurd or whatever, IT'S FREAKING TRASH, AND I'M SURE NONE OF THEM WANT A PILE OF TRASH IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME...How hard is it for them to find some trucks...I'm sure U.S. forces would gladly provide some for them...and a dump sites!!! Then they can hire people as trash collector...once again, I'm sure the U.S. forces will be gladly to foot the bill...open up some jobs...and seriously, even if you're a dissidents, why the heck would you waste ammos on a dumpster truck??? It's something they can do safely!!!

Overall, yes...I know it's still very dangerous for Iraqi civilians, but the point is, they need to be a little more brave and active in helping us out in restoring peace and order in their country. I remember the news report in the beginning of the war about Iraqis pointing foreign fundamentalists to U.S. forces during the first few days we rolled into Badghad, where's that effort now???

[martinexsquaddie]

Problem is its very difficult to get a civil administration going if theres even a few idiots running around with guns saw on tv looted electrical cable being burned for copper.
Totalitarinan Goverments leave a mess in there wake. Look at Russia after the fall. Its like dealing with an Abused child you learn ways of coping in a country where you could get killed for harbouring bad thoughts about Saddam no ones going ti rush to help the US.
Those that survived 1990 remember Saddam came back.
With out proof saddam either dead or captured a lot of people are going to remain to scared that he is coming back and he won't be very happy with anyone whose been waving old glory :(

[budanski]

For one thing. We need to start using common sense


July 8, 2003: Marine and Army troops in Iraq are upset over Rules of Engagement (ROEs) being implemented by Army commanders. While Marines are allowed to carry their weapons, both rifles and machine-guns, ready to use, Army units, especially non-combat ones (including Military Police) are being increasingly restrictive rules regarding the use and handling of weapons. Unlike the Marines, Army convoys do not display any weapons, making it appear as if the convoy is unarmed. For the Marines, this is madness. Marine convoys bristle with weapons, making it clear what will happen if anyone should be so foolish as to attack them. Army MPs are under orders not to handle their machine-guns while on roadblock duty unless they received orders from their headquarters. Army troops are allowed to carry* only two M-16 magazines, the rest being kept locked up. Marines are incredulous when they encounter this. Since Marines and Army troops control adjacent sectors, there is ample opportunities for troops from the two services to run into each other and compare notes. It has not gone unnoticed by American* troops, or the Iraqis that are attacking them, that nearly all the Americans attacked are Army troops. The Army ROEs tell the Iraqis that Army troops are an easier targets, equipped with an ROE that also serves as a virtual placard saying "shoot me, I have a hard time shooting back."

[Argyll]

Surely the ROE's are one and the same,and must be followed regardless of Unit!!
It sound like the SOP's are more of a problem than ROE's.2 mags per man is Fuc*ing ridiculous!!
But how can an ordinary Iraqi distinguish one unit from the other if they're wearing the same BDU's?(Marpat excluded!)I would disagree with that part about not targetting Marines because of that,perhaps the Marines are using different patrolling techniques,less aggresive?I don't know the answer,just an observation!

[ibstolidude]

BEOWULF -

LOL hahah - your comments went pretty much right on by 'sigh'
Check out the ROE comments - believe that bunk - if it is only for MP good they get too excited anyway - :lol: (down boys mostly kidding)

I've had a few SAT calls from old compatriots they all go around like Chaw, (pistol, long rifle, shotgun, and vehicle mounted spayer and every round/frag/203 they could draw, steal, trade, borrow, beg).

take care dude

[martinexsquaddie]

Sounds bloody stupid to me Iraq's far from safe you could patrol Belfast with two Mags But out in the countryside we carried eveything think we could get hold of though the 66 we never did get to shoot off to rounds from the m203 though :)

[Seraphim]

Thats the most ludacris thing I've ever heard, 2mags only...maybe thats why there was that pic of the sgt with the FAL. He probably bought it, got it checked out and bought a ton of mags with with. I would do the same if I was only allowed to carry 2mags.

[HMMcrewchief]

Bundansky Where is this quote from? Although I think it has a inkling of truth it might be exagerated. Yes, Marines usually go to the extreme of being prepared. At times a little too prepared, not always a bad thing if you don't mind carrying the weight. I far as I know (this is an opinion!) the Army tends to undereact to situations as they are more politicly sensitive.