Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cbclark4]

The Weinberger Doctrine:

The United States should not commit forces to combat unless the vital national interests of the United States or its allies are involved.
2. U.S. troops should only be committed wholeheartedly and with the clear intention of winning. Otherwise, troops should not be committed.
3. U.S. combat troops should be committed only with clearly defined political and military objectives and with the capacity to accomplish those objectives.
4. The relationship between the objectives and the size and composition of the forces committed should be continually reassessed and adjusted if necessary.
5. U.S. troops should not be committed to battle without a "reasonable assurance" of the support of U.S. public opinion and Congress.
6. The commitment of U.S. troops should be considered only as a last resort.

I didn't even know there was a Weinberger Doctrine.

Unfortunately these are not official Government policies.

Civil War Defined"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_war

cbc

[mithridates]

Here's one reporter's view:

http://movies.crooksandliars.com/CNN-Ware-CivilWar.wmv

He says yes, it has each and every aspect that civil wars have.

[Slep]

The only academics who are claiming it isn't a civil war are doing so based on a very narro wdefiinition of similar war that includes clearly definable leadership as well as distinguishable militaries involved.
There's pretty much uniform agreement that it's a civil war.
the title of the thread seems a bit celebratory for my tastes.

[cbclark4]

"A civil war is a war in which parties within the same culture, society or nationality fight for political power or control of an area. Political scientists use two criteria: the warring groups must be from the same country and fighting for control of the political center, control over a separatist state or to force a major change in policy. The second criterion is that at least 1,000 people must have been killed in total, with at least 100 from each side."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_war

cbc

[Troll_Bait]

There's been at least one other thread on this topic in which was discussed
a) the definition of civil war, and
b) does what's happening in Iraq fit that definition

Civil War??

[Hollywoodaction]

[igotthisguitar]

[brento1138]

Let's just say in some countries, there is a reason for a dictatorship like Saddam. Someone's gotta keep the people in line. The kings and queens of England or old Europe were no better... and the people's mentality in Iraq is not that much different from those in the middle ages.

[igotthisguitar]

Colin Powell Says Iraq In A 'Civil War'
POSTED: 1:13 p.m. EST, November 29, 2006



� Bush, top advisers have avoided the term
� U.N. Secretary General said Monday Iraq was "almost" in civil war

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) -- Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Wednesday that Iraq's violence meets the standard of civil war and that if he were heading the State Department now, he might recommend that the administration use that term.

Many news organizations and analysts are calling the Sunni-Shiite sectarian warfare that exploded this year, killing thousands and causing widespread displacement, a civil war.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/29/powell.iraq/index.html

[EFLtrainer]

[Moldy Rutabaga]

Has anyone remembered that the Korean war was obstinately referred to as a 'police action' by the military (it was on MASH, at least! ). This sort of name-game just insults people when Iraq is so clearly becoming more than a few misfits and troublemakers. Good for Powell.

Ken:>

[mnhnhyouh]

I think that the situation is more complex that the words Civil War can encompass. The presence of a large foreign army (U.S. for the most part) is outside the definition of Civil War.

However, if the main target of the two factions (note the Kurds are keeping well clear of this) is each other and no longer the U.S. then maybe it is closer to a Civil War than a resistance campaign.

If it is a Civil War, then after the initial dust settles, and the majority Shiites win, then their main target will, once again, be the U.S. occupation.

And, yes, I do, use, too, many, commas.

h

[dogshed]

[ddeubel]

This ain't no civil war!!!

Nothing civil about it. That much is as clear as day. Perhaps that is what GW means? He is very litterAlist......so much he spreads it around.....

DD

[igotthisguitar]