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Point 1: Differences in Allies, Especially Native Allies

The American army faces challenges in Iraq that hinder its ability to maneuver successfully like colonial powers of the past. It lacks the ability to recruit and instill loyalty in native allies due to sectarian divisions. Additionally, the Americans must build new political and military institutions from scratch rather than transplanting existing structures like the British. While the U.S. has airpower and technology, gunpowder weapons were historically more decisive. However, failure in Iraq would not necessarily lead to unrest at home.

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57 views2 pages

Point 1: Differences in Allies, Especially Native Allies

The American army faces challenges in Iraq that hinder its ability to maneuver successfully like colonial powers of the past. It lacks the ability to recruit and instill loyalty in native allies due to sectarian divisions. Additionally, the Americans must build new political and military institutions from scratch rather than transplanting existing structures like the British. While the U.S. has airpower and technology, gunpowder weapons were historically more decisive. However, failure in Iraq would not necessarily lead to unrest at home.

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greycompanion
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Thesis: The American army is forced into a colonial role without the ability to Maneuver to be

successful
Point 1: Differences in Allies, especially Native Allies
Idea: Colonial powers could succeed in recruiting effective military forces from native contingents by
playing off the power base to instill loyalty (in addition to the usual racist shenanigans) Americans
don't have that luxury
Sectarian problems in IRAQ
Brits can take their sweet old time Americans are under pressure to train and field at the same
time not good.
Idea: Brits can transplant organizational structure & political support of the British army, American
army has to build both from scratch
- p. 46 of IFD book poor disciplining institutions.
Point 2: Technological advantage, but not the right kind
- Magic Bullet of airpower vs true magic bullet of Gunpowder Weaponry
Point 3: The home front doesn't put the kebosh on the whole thing.

Iraqi Force Development: Conditions for


Success, Consequences of Failure

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