Time to react

With the implementation still, ongoing of additional U.S. forces in Baghdad in an attempt to control the present insurgent fighting the question of “when will it end” is still on everyone’s face. The fighting and constant killing taking place in Ramadi has become so commonplace some have stated that the capital of Iraq’s western Anbar province has sunk into virtual anarchy under the stranglehold of a skilled, well-financed and ruthless insurgency. Reports are filtering in from some news sources that now, for the first time, U.S. and Iraqi forces are engaged in a block-by-block campaign to retake the area.

Army Col. Sean MacFarland does not rule out major combat operations. However, he makes it clear he sees no value in sending U.S. troops "crashing through like a bull in a china shop," in a full-scale military engagement as the one that demolished Fallujah in 2004. However, it is becoming more evident with the passing of each day as the killings continue that this type of force on force will be the only deciding factor to salvage what will be left of Ramadi.

Many comments and quotes have filtered from the military stationed within the region that it will take overwhelming force to control this escalating situation. It is high time we relaxed the rules of engagement for our men and women in harm’s way in Iraq effectively removing the limitations they are presently working under and allow them to fight as the trained military force that they truly are.

Military troops cannot switch from a war situation of all out full contact and close quarters combat to that of a police officer expected to contain a situation without the use of deadly force. They are not trained in that manner and they should never be expected to react as a peacekeeper. Our military are highly trained and fully equipped to accomplish any mission assigned to them and we need to wake up to the fact that those Iraqi people presently engaged in the daily insurgent activities are only going to understand the use of deadly force.

We need to wake up to this before any more of our men and women perish, we need to wake up now.