Comments on: Why It’s Different http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2007/02/22/why-its-different/ Summum nec metuas diem, nec optes - Marcus Valerius Martialis Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:00:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Chris http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2007/02/22/why-its-different/comment-page-1/#comment-55603 Chris Fri, 23 Feb 2007 22:02:14 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2007/02/22/why-its-different/#comment-55603 OK, the British can withdraw because the conditions permit it, or at least in the opinion of their leadership the conditions permit it, but the Americans can't add troops because the conditions warrant it, at least in the opinion of our leadership? I don't follow your logic. You can withdraw troops from quieter sectors. You can add troops to more violent ones. The British are free to deploy their troops into and out of whatever theaters they choose. We can deploy our troops into and out of whatever theaters we choose. Gee, you don't suppose we gave the Brits the quieter south to limit Tony Blair's exposure, do you? You don't suppose anyone else has noticed that aside from Blair, there isn't much support in Britain for this fight? OK, the British can withdraw because the conditions permit it, or at least in the opinion of their leadership the conditions permit it, but the Americans can’t add troops because the conditions warrant it, at least in the opinion of our leadership? I don’t follow your logic. You can withdraw troops from quieter sectors. You can add troops to more violent ones. The British are free to deploy their troops into and out of whatever theaters they choose. We can deploy our troops into and out of whatever theaters we choose.

Gee, you don’t suppose we gave the Brits the quieter south to limit Tony Blair’s exposure, do you? You don’t suppose anyone else has noticed that aside from Blair, there isn’t much support in Britain for this fight?

]]> By: cfaller96 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2007/02/22/why-its-different/comment-page-1/#comment-55563 cfaller96 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:46:45 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2007/02/22/why-its-different/#comment-55563 Well, this explains why the conditions are different for British and American troops, but it doesn't explain why conditions can dictate a withdrawal for Britain, but can't dictate a withdrawal for the United States. Sure, the differing conditions in southern Iraq and the rest of the country will dictate different <i>schedules</i> for withdrawal in those regions, but it wouldn't change the actual <i>strategy of withdrawing according to conditions</i>. The Brits can do it, why can't we? Well, this explains why the conditions are different for British and American troops, but it doesn’t explain why conditions can dictate a withdrawal for Britain, but can’t dictate a withdrawal for the United States.

Sure, the differing conditions in southern Iraq and the rest of the country will dictate different schedules for withdrawal in those regions, but it wouldn’t change the actual strategy of withdrawing according to conditions. The Brits can do it, why can’t we?

]]> By: Former Republican http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2007/02/22/why-its-different/comment-page-1/#comment-55561 Former Republican Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:38:48 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2007/02/22/why-its-different/#comment-55561 Not a cause for gloom among war supporter? You are kidding yourself, Gaius. Okay, supose everything around Basra is just ducky. Great, send the British troops elsewhere in Iraq. Make them part of the surge. Or send them somewhere they will free up American troops for the surge. The US could certainly find uses for those British troops, but the Brits aren't willing to let them stay. The Brits aren't willing to support the surge. One more member of the coalition is drifting away, as politely as possible under the circumstances. The Brits are no longer an enthusiastic ally, Gaius. Once Blair is gone, I doubt they'll be an ally at all, at least in Iraq. The Brits have brains enough to know this war is effectively lost and have been acting accordingly. Not a cause for gloom among war supporter? You are kidding yourself, Gaius. Okay, supose everything around Basra is just ducky. Great, send the British troops elsewhere in Iraq. Make them part of the surge. Or send them somewhere they will free up American troops for the surge. The US could certainly find uses for those British troops, but the Brits aren’t willing to let them stay. The Brits aren’t willing to support the surge. One more member of the coalition is drifting away, as politely as possible under the circumstances. The Brits are no longer an enthusiastic ally, Gaius. Once Blair is gone, I doubt they’ll be an ally at all, at least in Iraq. The Brits have brains enough to know this war is effectively lost and have been acting accordingly.

]]>