Iraq is a disaster: old warriors have their say

[Swagman]

Iraq is a disaster: old warriors have their say
Nick McKenzie
December 16, 2006

SOME of the nation's most senior military figures from the past two decades have delivered a blistering assessment of the US-led coalition's strategy in Iraq, saying Australia must urge the Americans to change course.

Eight former military chiefs and the present RSL president said the coalition strategy had failed and must be overhauled.

The Age surveyed all military chiefs since 1985. Eight responded in detail, making up a third of those who have led the army, navy, air force and Australian Defence Force in that time. Their views vary, but all paint a far bleaker picture of the conflict than the Federal Government. Most urged the Government to be more candid about the extent of the failure in Iraq and to use its influence more aggressively in Washington.
While most favoured a staged multilateral troop withdrawal, there were calls for an ongoing military commitment and greater engagement with regional players such as Syria and Iran.

"It is time the Australian Government came clean and acknowledged that this is unwinnable and we have to get out before we get hurt and get our tail kicked," said former navy chief Vice-Admiral Ian MacDougall. "Small as we are, we are probably much more important than the contribution we are making in a military sense and therefore we are in a position to influence and say 'This is unwinnable'."

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/iraq-a-disaster-senior-military/2006/12/15/1166162320234.html

[Arkansas Granny]

1. Your use of the term "old warriors" made me remember this song:

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Soldiers Of Peace Lyrics
(Graham Nash, Craig Doerge & Joe Vitale)

Soldiers of peace are not fighting a war
Are not looking for enemies behind every door
Are not looking for people to kill or to maim.
Soldiers of peace are just changing the game.

Men who were fighting for all of our lives
Are now fighting for children, for homes and for wives,
Fighting for the memory of all who fell before,
But the soldiers of peace just can't kill any more.

So come all you warriors who live for the fight,
Come listen to somebody, somebody who might
Have been there before you and they have the right,
They've been dying to tell you the score.
The old warriors don't want you to hurt any more.

Soldiers of peace can still hear the cries
When the people were screaming and losing their lives,
When bodies were broken and spirits were torn
The soldiers of peace do not want you to mourn.

So come all you warriors who live for the fight,
Come listen to somebody, somebody who might
Have been there before you and they have the right,
They've been dying to tell you the score.
The old warriors don't want you to hurt any more.

Soldiers of peace are not fighting a war.
No more, no more, no more, no more.