On April 1, we published a pessimistic assessment of the situation in Iraq by a soldier from Minnesota who works in intelligence in the southern part of the country. His evaluation was well-informed and gloomy. (As regular readers know, we have also published a number of more optimistic assessments.) Patterico solicited responses to our correspondent's email from two servicemen who are stationed in Anbar; the first, by guest blogger Badger 6, is here. An excerpt:

Blogging and reporting about the situation in Iraq is complex and difficult. What is true in one block may not be true in the next block and while the General Officers have an overall view, it becomes difficult for them to roll all of their assessments into one neat little sound bite. Conversely the Private or Lieutenant will know his or her one area of Iraq very well, much better than his or her Senior Leaders because that is all they are responsible for. If things are going well in that small area, the situation can seem very good; obviously then the opposite is true, if your area is going poorly then the whole thing may appear quite dismal.

The biggest mistake I think the the Powerline correspondent makes, is using his or her localized experience as a template for all of Iraq.

The second response, by an Army Combat Engineer in the area around Fallujah and Ramadi, is here. An excerpt:

Then there’s the domestic political situation which I won’t rehash except to say that it’s crippling to the war effort. … Would, should, any rational person bet his life helping CF when you’re expecting them to leave at any time?

This is the one point of the article on which I agree 100% with the author. Why indeed would you fight alongside the soldiers that will leave when you need them the most? Why would you care if the temporary occupiers of your fields are blown apart by IEDs? Why would you devote your tribe’s men, time, and treasure towards the success of a government that you expect to fall as soon as the Americans leave?

All three posts are thoughtful and well worth your attention.

To comment on these posts, go here.

Posted by John at 12:02 PM  |    |