Herbert: Shopping for War (Must Read of Mad Rummy/Boykin Plans)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/27/opinion/27herbert.html?hp=&pagewanted=print&position=

You might think that the debacle in Iraq would be enough for the Pentagon, that it would not be in the mood to seek out new routes to unnecessary wars for the United States to fight. But with Donald Rumsfeld at the apex of the defense establishment, enough is never enough.

So, as detailed in an article in The Times on Dec. 19, Mr. Rumsfeld's minions are concocting yet another grandiose and potentially disastrous scheme. Pentagon officials are putting together a plan that would give the military a more prominent role in intelligence gathering operations that traditionally have been handled by the Central Intelligence Agency. They envision the military doing more spying with humans, as opposed, for example, to surveillance with satellites.

Further encroachment by the military into intelligence matters better handled by civilians is bad enough. Now hold your breath. According to the article, "Among the ideas cited by Defense Department officials is the idea of 'fighting for intelligence,' or commencing combat operations chiefly to obtain intelligence."

That is utter madness. The geniuses in Washington have already launched one bogus war, which has cost tens of thousands of lives and provoked levels of suffering that are impossible to quantify. We don't need to be contemplating new forms of warfare waged for the sole purpose of gathering intelligence.

Part of this plan to further aggrandize Mr. Rumsfeld is being drafted under the direction of Lt. Gen. William Boykin....

[pocoloco]

1. Boykin?...

be very afraid!!

[susu369]

2. Hat's off to Herbert

he has consistently written some excellent columns.

:kick:

[Demeter]

3. Well, People, What Are We Able To Do About This?

How can we head this off at the pass?

[HamdenRice]

4. fighting for intelligence = strategic equivalent of reconnaissance by fire

Fighting war just to get intelligence, without any real threat, is the strategic equivalent of a common tactic being used in Iraq -- reconnaissance by fire. It means shooting at buildings even if there is not target just to see if anyone shoots back. For example, you open fire with 25 mm canon or 50 mm machine gun on an entire Iraqi street. You might kill dozens of civilians huddling in their homes, but perhaps an "insurgent" will fire back, revealing his position. Then you can call in air strikes on the revealed target.

Both are the logical equivalent of 1500s witch trials. You tie someone up and throw them in the river. If they die, they were innocent; but if they float and live, they are witches and burned at stake.

Fighting for intelligence just takes this tactic to the strategic level. Invade, for example, Syria. If there are not terrorists there, you simply blast a path of destruction and murder to Damascus. But maybe somewhere along the way, someone will shoot back and you will have discovered "terrorists".

Here is Ware's description of "reconnaissance by fire":

http://207.44.245.159/article7484.htm

Eyewitness Interview: "Iraq Is An Absolute Disaster":

Journalist Michael Ware is the Baghdad Bureau Chief for Time Magazine. He was embedded in Fallujah during the recent US offensive earlier this month, and has covered the war in Iraq since February 2003. He joins us today with his perspective on the situation in Iraq.

<snip>

WARE: Oh, absolutely, I mean… For example, the military unit I was with, I mean, the operation in Fallujah involved largely Marines, but also some army elements. I was with one of those elements. The way they proceeded through the city, given that there was booby-traps, improvised explosive devices, riddling the streets everywhere. Entire houses were rigged to blow. The way they proceeded was what they call “Reconnaissance by Fire.” If you’re going to go down a street first you scour it for any potential danger. How do you do that? You do it with a 25mm cannon on an armoured Bradley fighting vehicle. Or you do it with one 20mm tank round. Just blow up everything that looks vaguely suspicious. Then if someone shoots at you from a building, or there’s an explosion near a vehicle, don’t mess with it. Don’t go into the building looking for the guy… just level the building. And then go through the rubble afterwards.

[Eloriel]

5. Very hepful, tho chilling, commentary. Thanks. n/t