Iraq perspectives

Col. Thomas Hammes, U.S. Marine Corps. (Ret.) was on C-Span this morning with some very interesting observations about Iraq:

First he feels the insurgency is being fed and the citizens being turned away from law and order and towards affiliations with the various sects/militias because they are anticipating the American pull out from Iraq.

He says the administration is using bumper sticker slogans like "stay the course" but not really doing anything to fix the problem, including direct negotiations and a real commitment to a winning strategy. Actually he says we have a strategy, but we won't commit to it. You can listen to/watch the entire interview on c-span.org and it is well worth the time.

This is a man who helped to manage Iraqi military bases. He says the members of the Iraq military are not lacking in courage or commitment, but the U.S. has done a horrible job of supplying them (Most still ride around in open bed Toyota trucks, much like the militias you see in many African nations). He also says American troops still don't have what they need supply wise or in military footing to accomplish the mission. He also advocates SecDef Rumsfeld should resign.

You may or may not agree with all he says and he lays some blame at the feet of democrats as well, but I don't think his message can be ignored.