Is Saddam's strategy effective against foreign invaders?

  • Context: News 
  • Thread starter Thread starter schwarzchildradius
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Strategy
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effectiveness of Saddam Hussein's strategies against foreign invaders, particularly in the context of the Iraq War and comparisons to historical resistance movements. Participants explore various aspects of military strategy, resistance tactics, and the implications of leadership on the conflict.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that Saddam's strategy involves blending into the population and conducting guerrilla warfare, similar to the Taliban's resistance in Afghanistan.
  • Others question the current status of Saddam, with speculation about his potential death affecting the resistance strategy and the overall conflict.
  • There is a mention of the US forces' lack of a coherent strategy as a critical factor in the long-term outcome of the conflict.
  • One participant proposes that the anti-US resistance will rely on stashed conventional explosives and continue terrorist activities, but may face diminishing support due to moderate Shiite identity and US persistence.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on Saddam's current status and the effectiveness of his strategies. There is no consensus on whether his approach will ultimately succeed or fail, and multiple competing perspectives remain throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on assumptions about Saddam's leadership and the dynamics of support among the Iraqi population, which are not fully substantiated. The discussion also reflects uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of the US military strategy and its impact on the conflict.

How do you rate Saddam's strategy?

  • Very effective - will crack coalition and destroy American economy

    Votes: 1 12.5%
  • Effective - will cause coalition to exit Iraq within 1 year

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Moderately effective - will cause early exit of coalition within 7 years

    Votes: 3 37.5%
  • Not effective - terrorism will die out within 4 years with no change in US policy

    Votes: 3 37.5%
  • Wild card- Saddam will use WMD with devastating effects

    Votes: 1 12.5%

  • Total voters
    8
schwarzchildradius
The Iran-Iraq war ended in an inconclusive way, and the Republican Guard was beaten back from Kuwait by the British and Americans in Gulf War I. But today, the story is different. Saddam and his forces have attacked the allied strategy, dissolving into the general polulation and striking in operations similar to the resistance of the Taliban to the Russian invaders of Afghanistan.
Eventually, Saddam may drive the coalition out, unless the Militia runs out of ammunition first. How do you rate Saddam's strategy for dealing with foreign invaders?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hey, we don't even know if Saddam is still alive! Of course, long term it isn't so much about resistance strategy, as it is about the occupying force's complete lack of a strategy.
 
I suppose it's possible that Saddam is dead but then you'd think that it would be common knowledge in Baghdad. Even with the man out of the picture the US still has problems, with fundamentalists.
There's one wacko theory that goes Saddam has been dead for 2 years now. I bet he's still alive, conducting the escalating guerilla war he has planned for years against this predictable invasion.
 
And what about bin Laden? He hasn't made any more of those videos recently, and he looked pretty bad in the last one. Could it be?
 
Originally posted by selfAdjoint
And what about bin Laden? He hasn't made any more of those videos recently, and he looked pretty bad in the last one. Could it be?

You mean other than the one released a couple of months ago where he was hiking around some rugged mountain trails?
 
"Saddam" (anti-US resistance) will use stashed conventional explosives (having planned not to resist the main US assault), continue terrorist bombings and raids, but diminish their support base and effectiveness as a result of moderate Shiite identity and US persistance. Iraq may stabilize within 5 years.

(I do not support this war.)
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
11K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
6K
  • · Replies 39 ·
2
Replies
39
Views
7K
  • · Replies 42 ·
2
Replies
42
Views
7K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 193 ·
7
Replies
193
Views
24K
  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
8K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
6K