Comments on: General Petraeus' Visit To Lebanon. Protocol Or More?

By: Bronx-man

Bronx-man — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:02:32 +0000

Vor, Iraq is also a complicated regional problem with Iran wanting to control it and other states in the area trying to prevent that from happening. Additionally, along with Sunnis and Shiias, there are also the Kurds to keep the pot boiling. While Petraeus is a capable soldier he is also a statesman. He is the main promoter of the importance of establishing a functioning society as a way to eliminate the selling points of an insurgency. His manual on counterinsurgency is big on the importance of non force solutions. It is non classified and can be downloaded on the Web. With him visiting Lebanon, the country must be pretty high on his list of priorities.

By: ramsis

ramsis — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:01:27 +0000

VOR
if you could, take a look at petraeus’s plan for counter insurgency warfare and you’ll see that it is not entirely a military solution. political strength and the incorporation of fringe elements into the (Lebanese) army is very much a important part of the COIN strategy. a big part of Nasrallah’s power comes the fact that the Lebanese government does not have the full support of its people. if petraeus can consult on a Lebanese COIN strategy and make their armed forces as well as the government institutions more effective, I think you’ll see Nasrallah’s grip begin to weaken and a better, stronger Lebanon emerge.

By: VOR

VOR — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:56:24 +0000

Just protocol…what do you expect him to do? Our issue is not as simple as the sadr militia, it is a complicated regional problem that can’t be solved with force alone…it’s already been proven.

By: Bronx-man

Bronx-man — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:45:16 +0000

The reference to Iraq’s Sadr is possibly relevant to Lebanon’s local version of a herdsman with large holdings. Isn’t it true that Sadr and Nasrallah belong to the same herd (tribe, family, ?); Cousins, or something like that. Also, Petraeus is the co-author of the updated U.S. Army (and Marine Corps) manual on counterinsurgency. Petraeus has demonstrated substance and smarts and Nasrallah doesn’t offer much more than a propaganga seeking blowhard who thinks he’s a resurrected Saladin. Petraeus has proven accomplishments in offensive warfare warfare and Nasrallah mostly proved that if you dig a hole deep enough you can ride out the storm. Petraeus offers a program for stability, reconstruction, improvements in economics, legal structures and other basics of a functioning government. He’ll offer ideas but it will take the Lebanese to follow through. Nasrallah is directed by Iran and God (?) and offers a 12th century version of a functioning society. Only the dummies will dismiss Petraeus and his ideas without listening, and saving their comments for afterwards.

By: sergio

sergio — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:42:09 +0000

General Petraeus’ visit to Beirut is considered to be an insult to the intellectual Lebanese mind and diplomacy, his personal advisor for the Middle East affairs Saadi Othman is Just a Taxi Driver in NYC who happened to be a linguist in Iraq.Who are you kidding?

By: danny

danny — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:05:38 +0000

Just a message to black turbines that USA “military” has not abandoned Lebos…

By: doodad

doodad — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:45:23 +0000

Perhaps he brought pictures of destroyed Iraq and Saddam dangling from a rope to share with Hezb’s puppet leader as a jovial reminder.

By: anthem boy

anthem boy — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:12:18 +0000

to add to vox populii, with big help from the surge troops and general patreaus’ new coin strategies.

By: Vox P.

Vox P. — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:04:08 +0000

I would say that Sadr was put down by the Iraqi government and its own stupidity.

By: yo sugar daddy

yo sugar daddy — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:47:28 +0000

do you mean to tell us that the esteemed General David Michael Filmore Winston Pipsqueak Petraeus The Third is more powerful than Israel? hmmmmm…