Should Bush and Blair be tried for war crimes?

[Howlin Mad Missy]

Well Missy not being beholden to an internationally prescribed set of rules and not using good tactics in a counterinsurgency are not the same thing. Rape would not be in line with winning hearts and minds and there fore would not be a good tactic. FM 3-24 spells out pretty well the proper way to wage some military operations. A U.S. Soldier was charged with rape in Iraq and he was tried and convicted...not under Geneva but because it is against the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. We don't need Geneva to combat an insurgency effective we need good leaders down to the platoon level and competent Soldiers.

Who are "these people" you speak of and where did I describe them as savage and barbaric and where did I imply I was better?

I am curious though with your obvious extensive experience in military operations and counterinsurgency do you have a better way to combat these adversaries or simply like to point your finger?

You were taking the Apocalypse Now approach to combat.
You were criticising their methods and saying international law shouldnt really matter in cases where your opponent doesn't adhere to them.
There are only two conclusions to draw from that, you either stick to international law because you think it is right and proper to do so, hence superior. If you criticise your opponent for their behaviour what else are people to think?

I study military history. Perhaps US/UK leaders should do the same, they seem to have learnt nothing from Vietnam.


The point is this, you can not win against these people.
If their culture changes it will come from within and not by your or our direct meddling.

As I asked before who is "these people" again? And what do you mean by the Apcalyspe Now approach? My approach is that it shouldn't be up to someone with no skin in the game such as yourself to dictate how war should be fought. Let the commanders on the battlefield make these decisions. I'm not sure what you mean by criticize my opponent. Are you saying you support and endorse the tactics used by AQI/ShiaMilitias/Taliban?

They are fighting as they should perfectly.