Comments on: Security and WHAM: Getting the Order Right http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/02/16/security-and-wham-getting-the-order-right/ News & Commentary on Warfare, Policy and Counterterrorism Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:11:13 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Dominique R. Poirier http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/02/16/security-and-wham-getting-the-order-right/comment-page-1/#comment-11594 Dominique R. Poirier Sun, 18 Feb 2007 23:05:54 +0000 http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/02/16/security-and-wham-getting-the-order-right/#comment-11594 Walrus, It looks like we both sent our comments nearly at the same time, so much so that I found yours only after I have sent mine. Personal thanks for the address of this report which sounds interesting and provides me with first useful answers. Walrus,
It looks like we both sent our comments nearly at the same time, so much so that I found yours only after I have sent mine. Personal thanks for the address of this report which sounds interesting and provides me with first useful answers.

]]> By: Dominique R. Poirier http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/02/16/security-and-wham-getting-the-order-right/comment-page-1/#comment-11593 Dominique R. Poirier Sun, 18 Feb 2007 22:46:22 +0000 http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/02/16/security-and-wham-getting-the-order-right/#comment-11593 I am also looking for an answer to Denis’ question too. I’ll add one more question: is there, somewhere on the web, an exhaustive chronology and list of locations (with accurate coordinates) about past incidents in the Anbar region? Or, for wants of such information, does anyone know something about the location and distribution of those incidents? I mean, do they seem random-like distributed on the whole Anbar region from the western borders to Baghdad, or do they usually occur in some particular areas? Are there hot points? Things like that; you see. Am I wrong if I conjecture that such kind of information is likely to be publicly available since the media use to report about those incidents? I am also looking for an answer to Denis’ question too. I’ll add one more question: is there, somewhere on the web, an exhaustive chronology and list of locations (with accurate coordinates) about past incidents in the Anbar region?
Or, for wants of such information, does anyone know something about the location and distribution of those incidents? I mean, do they seem random-like distributed on the whole Anbar region from the western borders to Baghdad, or do they usually occur in some particular areas? Are there hot points? Things like that; you see.
Am I wrong if I conjecture that such kind of information is likely to be publicly available since the media use to report about those incidents?

]]> By: walrus http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/02/16/security-and-wham-getting-the-order-right/comment-page-1/#comment-11590 walrus Sun, 18 Feb 2007 22:26:17 +0000 http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/02/16/security-and-wham-getting-the-order-right/#comment-11590 Dear Herschel, with the greatest respect, while your article is very good and you understand the relationship between security and WHAM operations, you seem to have a "Syria Fixation" at the moment. The State Department has stated that "between four and ten percent" of insurgents are foriegners with the bulk coming from Saudi Arabia. I refer you to this paper on the subject which also contains references for the State Department and other quotations. http://www.aeaweb.org/annual_mtg_papers/2007/0105_1430_1601.pdf I think we have enough trouble dealing with Iraq without going to war with Syria and Iran as well. [Editorial Comment by HPS: walrus, see my comment in response to yours under the article <a href="http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/02/05/the-surge-and-coming-operations-in-iraq/" target="_blank">The Surge and Coming Operations In Iraq</a>.  With regards to my "Syria fixation," see my more recent article <a href="http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/02/18/the-covert-war-with-iran/" target="_blank"><strong>The Covert War with Iran</strong></a>.] Dear Herschel, with the greatest respect, while your article is very good and you understand the relationship between security and WHAM operations, you seem to have a “Syria Fixation” at the moment.

The State Department has stated that “between four and ten percent” of insurgents are foriegners with the bulk coming from Saudi Arabia.

I refer you to this paper on the subject which also contains references for the State Department and other quotations.

http://www.aeaweb.org/annual_mtg_papers/2007/0105_1430_1601.pdf

I think we have enough trouble dealing with Iraq without going to war with Syria and Iran as well.

[Editorial Comment by HPS: walrus, see my comment in response to yours under the article The Surge and Coming Operations In Iraq.  With regards to my "Syria fixation," see my more recent article The Covert War with Iran.]

]]> By: Denis Murphy http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/02/16/security-and-wham-getting-the-order-right/comment-page-1/#comment-11281 Denis Murphy Fri, 16 Feb 2007 19:38:07 +0000 http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/02/16/security-and-wham-getting-the-order-right/#comment-11281 Thanks for following up on the original Haditha report. I remember thinking that it was an important story, which I promptly forgot. It reinforces my strong belief that "all" U.S. forces should get out there to Anbar right now and take care of business. IMO Baghdad can wait. One question I still have is: what's the ratio between homegrown Sunnis and foreign fighters in the Anbar insurgency? -- Denis Thanks for following up on the original Haditha report. I remember thinking that it was an important story, which I promptly forgot. It reinforces my strong belief that “all” U.S. forces should get out there to Anbar right now and take care of business. IMO Baghdad can wait.

One question I still have is: what’s the ratio between homegrown Sunnis and foreign fighters in the Anbar insurgency? — Denis

]]> By: Smith http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/02/16/security-and-wham-getting-the-order-right/comment-page-1/#comment-11245 Smith Fri, 16 Feb 2007 14:10:56 +0000 http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/02/16/security-and-wham-getting-the-order-right/#comment-11245 Another good one Herschel. You are absolutely correct when you say that we're doing it right. I have an easy solution to end this quicker... Here goes... Every terrorist we arrest gets tortured. Severely. Beat them to within an inch of their life, then drop them off at the scene of a recent attack on civilians with a sign saying: "I am a terrorist, and the good guys are now winning" I'll bet after the first week normal people will be thinking twice about helping the bad guys. Before I hear it, Yes. I realize that it will never happen. It's not Politically Correct. I know, I know. It's my fantasy. You know though, it's funny how Politics rears it's nasty head in everything... even war. It's really, really sad. It's War, people. Besides, I'm a huge believer in "eye for an eye". What better way to punish torturers than by... Torturing them? Another good one Herschel. You are absolutely correct when you say that we’re doing it right. I have an easy solution to end this quicker…

Here goes… Every terrorist we arrest gets tortured. Severely. Beat them to within an inch of their life, then drop them off at the scene of a recent attack on civilians with a sign saying: “I am a terrorist, and the good guys are now winning”
I’ll bet after the first week normal people will be thinking twice about helping the bad guys.

Before I hear it, Yes. I realize that it will never happen. It’s not Politically Correct. I know, I know. It’s my fantasy. You know though, it’s funny how Politics rears it’s nasty head in everything… even war. It’s really, really sad. It’s War, people. Besides, I’m a huge believer in “eye for an eye”. What better way to punish torturers than by… Torturing them?

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