This will go on for a while... it'll be stupid for the insurgents to have a final showdown, they won't have any advantage in that case. Hopefully the area can be stablized for a while for the people to make a change themselves.

The fact of the matter is a war agianst terrorism,or insurgents, can never be won because there is no clear definition of these 'insurgents' The insurgents see Americans as the enemy and the Americans see the insurgents as the enemy.

Originally Posted by Charge_7

"Last stand" assumes they will be crushed and killed off or taken prisoner. There may be a "last stand" of a group of them, but there will _not_ be a "last stand" of terrorism. They will continue to exist in whole or in part for decades to come if not longer. Only the day when all people have an equal chance of prosperity and freedom will even start to bring an end to terrorism.

That's the beauty of the "war on terror". It will never end unless the U.S. government calls it off. But might seem like admitting defeat making it unlikely to happen in the near future.

That's the beauty of the "war on terror". It will never end unless the U.S. government calls it off.

Uh, no. Terrorists were around before 9/11 and they will be around with or without US participation in the War on Terror. Nice "Baghdad Bob" avatar you have there.

I'd like this post to be deleted. Why can't I do this myself?

Originally Posted by Charge_7

Uh, no. Terrorists were around before 9/11 and they will be around with or without US participation in the War on Terror. Nice "Baghdad Bob" avatar you have there.

Thanks, Charge_7. Is Baghdad Bob the same as Comical Ali? If so I can see the similarity The avatar is originally the "avatar" of the GLA Leader's Limo in a mission of the rts game Command & Conquer Generals Zero:Hour.

Slightly OT: Do you have any idea what country his uniform might be from?

Of course terrororists have been, and will be around for centuries or more. But since "terror" is such a broad term the "war" against it can be carried on forever, if so desired.

Originally Posted by Doppleganger

There will never be peace in Iraq as we understand it as long as the state of Iraq exists. There are too many factions that refuse to compromise. I wouldn't be surprised if Iraq goes the way of the former Yugoslavia at some point.

I think when the US and UK troops (remember we have a few thousand boys in there too) pull out the new Iraq military will continue to face daily attacks and it will be worse unless they shape up fast. Which I just can't see happening. Unless Iraq splits up into 'Kurdistan', 'Sunnistan' and 'Shitestan' (what a name!) it's just going to go on and on.

Yes i agree, if you see how many attacks are happening when USA are IN Iraq, then think what will happen when they will leave..

Yes this isn't a war that'll end easily.... in fact one wonders if this truly is a war.
It doesn't really matter for those who fight though. If you die in a war, an intervention, a peacekeeping operation etc. what have you, you're still quite dead.
Once Iraq gets back on its feet, it should serve as a good example for the rest of the world that this sort of thing CAN be done but that freeing people will always be a very costly action.
And the nay sayers will be found as idiots once again.

It was already said about twenty times, but I'll say it anyway. This war won't be over for a very, very long time. Untill every last terrorist cell is found and destroyed, it will continue, and that isn't likely to happen any time soon. I'm still young, and I doubt I will see the end of this war in my lifetime (we're talking the next 100 years here).

Or, somehow, the West and the Middle East reach a peace agreement of some sort, and there is a Great Peace, like a Pax Americana or something, but the chances of that are null.

Originally Posted by Fix bayonets

The question is; Will there be a proper last stand in Iraq by 'insurgent' forces or by coalition forces? (by way of proper I mean everybody killed on one side) Before long I think there will be as the 'insurgents' are very fanatical. What do you think?

It's a self-sustaining situation. In the modern world of Islam, every wack job you kill becomes a martyr (for no explainable reason) and this pushes 3-4 new people over the edge they were already very close to. And off they go into the world of Muslim fanaticism, where they will happily murder people for the glory of a God (Alah) that never asked them to murder to begin with and will damn them for eternity for it.

Ain't it fun?