I had a thought not too long ago. If I was the president I would not have gone into Iraq while we were busy with afghanistan. That was a profound strategic error not to mention rather selfish, arrogant, and callous. So Imagining that I had a reason that was not completely fabricated I would have gone about the whole situation far more carefully. We already had certain strategic advantages in that we had Kuwait working with us because of the previous liberation of it and Turkey being a member of NATO and I believe where the airbase from where we were enforcing a no fly zone over the kurdish areas of iraq in the north. So on the premise that a viable reason to invade that garnered the support of our allies the invasion would come quite easily. Developing forces in the south along the border in kuwait and in the north moving forces into the kurdish areas and like we did in afghanistan mobilize the kurdish military and police forces behind our plans. Moving them up to the limits of the no fly zone to prepare a mobilization into the rest of the country. At time that was appointed both sets of forces would mobilize spreading out across the border areas to effectively surround the country. The soldiers would move in to address any potential threats. Along with them would come various experts on everything from the social psychology of the region to structural engineers. They would move through the inhabited areas and address all the locals, somewhat like they have begun to do now. It would be explained the the government that is will be removed. The new government would be representative of them and would address the crimes of the previous regime. They would have it made clear to them that this would be their country now and what they do now is what makes the future of their nation. The teams would then be surveying the infrastructure and the requirements to repair it. They would be interviewing the communities and to determine and address their needs. Then the builders would come in with a mixed plan. The ultimate goal of the building and rebuilding needed, but also to include the iraqi's in the rebuilding. The most dangerous thing in the world is a young male. The two things that make a young male even more dangerous than being young and male are poverty and having idle hands. To mobilize the young iraqi's into public works and rebuilding programs to keep them busy but also make sure that they are being trained into marketable skills. That way when the projects are over they are not left to just sit and do nothing. They now have skills that can allow them to make a living. If they have jobs and are kept busy they will not have the energy or interest to get involved with criminal actions or paramilitary organizations. Everything has to be shrewd. Everything has to be tight. Everything has to be addressed from all directions at once. There would have to be air strikes on the military installations during the invasion to suppress the military action as much as possible. You cannot go into a foreign nation like that without knowing who you are dealing with. Sun Tzu is all just common sense. War is not simply the use of military force. You have to see every thing at once. In the first Iraqi war our psychological warfare efforts were massively effective. The iraqi attempts were ridiculous and pathetic. The same thing with the chinese during Korea. The Japanese efforts were amusing. In viet nam the enemy did a very effective and efficient job. I know my plan is not perfect but with a little more research it would be. All that had to be done was to remove a dictator and his supporters, Place the country in the hands of the people and defend its borders until it could do it for itself. By enlisting the iraqi's to fight for and build their own nation then perhaps the value of it will mean all the more to them. If they all work together for the same goal then perhaps they will have a sense of kinship in the rebirth of their nation. You cannot have one simplistic plan and just run with it. You have to face every possible scenario and have a plan that is set for them all. You never know what is going to happen and plans must be able to evolve or change on the fly if need be. You have to look at where you are, look at where you want to go, then figure out what it will take to get you there. If you are planning a trip and look at a map you can see your starting point and destination. You cannot see what road construction may be active and the state of it. You cannot see where you will have to detour. You cannot see what car accidents will happen to you or others. You can plan for alternate routes. You can handle the accidents as they come. You can make sure your equipment is in proper condition to make the trip. I could have run it all perfectly. yes I know I left a lot of parts out. This is just the rough idea.
