Interresting quote

[Masklinn]

We are at great disadvantage when we make war on people who have nothing to loose. - Fransesco Guieciordini

This fits very well with the current situation in Iraq.
Unfortunately, the coallition can expect more sneaky tricks from the Iraqis, like soldiers dressed like civilians and suicide bombing...
Those are tactics of despair...

[johnny]

I don't agree, they have everything to lose. Their country AND their lives. That's the reason why they put up a good fight.

And their use of guerilla tactics, well.... what would you do when you don't have an airforce, and face an opponent with superior firepower ? This is their only chance, an open fight is not an option for them. In the last gulfwar they lost 20.000 armoured vehicles in 100 hours. They've learned their lesson.

The Iraqi Leadership has much to loose. Power, Priveledge, Luxury, Influence and their lives. Not an inconsiderable loss, any of them.

thinking American Revolution......our militia weren't anything but the predecessor of what we refer to as guerillas today.

Wasn't it Napoleon who said "Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent."

and "A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights."

and "Ability is of little account without opportunity."

he also said, but I can't quote directly because I can't find it anywhere anymore (and I am wondering why!) something to the effect of not going to war too many times against the same country lest teach them your art of war.

[Ronn_Bman]

Yep, but during the American Revolution, the soldiers didn't use women, children, and other innocent civilians as human shields.

that didn't stop them from killing them though did it?

Native tribes who got in the way of our forces progression (by helping the other side) paid dearly for their loyalties.

[skywalker]

Originally posted by Lil Lil: thinking American Revolution......our militia weren't anything but the predecessor of what we refer to as guerillas today. Wasn't it Napoleon who said "Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent." and "A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights." and "Ability is of little account without opportunity." he also said, but I can't quote directly because I can't find it anywhere anymore (and I am wondering why!) something to the effect of not going to war too many times against the same country lest teach them your art of war.

I think this is the one you are looking for:

You must not fight too often with one enemy, or you will teach him all your art of war.

From: http://www.napoleonguide.com/maxim_war.htm

Mark

[Thoran]

Napoleon was a clever bastard. [img]smile.gif[/img]

If I were in the shoes of a patriotic Iraqi, I'd be engaging in every guirilla tactic I could think of... short of marching civilians in front of my AK. I simply cannot accept that sacrificing your own civilians is EVER acceptable, even in the direst circumstances.

[Ronn_Bman]

Originally posted by Thoran: Napoleon was a clever bastard. [img]smile.gif[/img] If I were in the shoes of a patriotic Iraqi, I'd be engaging in every guirilla tactic I could think of... short of marching civilians in front of my AK. I simply cannot accept that sacrificing your own civilians is EVER acceptable, even in the direst circumstances.

Exactly! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Ronn_Bman]

Originally posted by Lil Lil: that didn't stop them from killing them though did it? Native tribes who got in the way of our forces progression (by helping the other side) paid dearly for their loyalties.

Native tribes from across the globe have paid dearly from the time the first settlers landed. Sadly, it didn't really matter whose side they were on, or whether they were here or elsewhere. They were wrongly thought of as being "less than".

So yes, what you mention was horrific, but still not quite as unfathomable (based on the misguided ideas of that time) as the Iraqi military's current actions to protect itself by sacrificing their own people. Guerilla tactics? Sure, I can understand that, but putting their neighbors between them and the bullets, or shooting at kids who try to flee to safety? How can they live with that. [img]graemlins/1disgust.gif[/img]