Spengler on our war
"An old Israeli joke says that you can't buy an Arab, but you can rent one. An October 16, 2007, report describes the first meeting between the then commander of American forces in Iraq, Major General Rick Lynch,and his superior, Petraeus, with Sunni tribal leaders:
Spengler here. He'll make you think.
One mentions weapons, but the general insists: "I can give you money to work in terms of improving the area. What I cannot do - this is very important - is give you weapons."That was then. American forces now are trying to do the same thing in Afghanistan,except that they are unable to distinguish between tribesmen-for-rent and the Taliban itself."
The gravity of the war council in a tent at the US forward operating base at Camp Assassin is suspended for a few moments as one of the local Iraqi leaders says jokingly but knowingly: "Don't worry! Weapons are cheap in Iraq."
"That's right, that's exactly right," laughs Lynch in reply.
Spengler here. He'll make you think.
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