Lessons Learned

After paying pretty close attention to the way Operation Iraqi Freedom has unfolded, I've come up with some observations on how to go about doing similar future operations.

The one thing that was done with perfectionism was the toppling of the regime. Hit 'em with shock and awe, take out the regime command centers and go on the the thunder runs.

That said, however, the first thing we should do is drop leaflets that say something to the effect of -

We are coming in to remove your oppression regime.

If you are an official of the regime, you will be retrained and possibly reassigned based on your skills.

If you take this option you will be supplied with pay, food and housing.

If you do not wish to take this option you will destroyed.

Please help us help you to create a better life your people.

I'll bet if the Baathists had read something like that, and they saw the legitamacy of that claim with their own eyes, we would not have had the level of insurgency and looting that occured.

The fact that all of the Middle East is now seeing with their home satellites a political system of open discourse on channels such as Aj Jazeera, Al Arabia and the myriad of new free press outlets has a significant impact in and of itself. We need to see to it that this is expedited in future conflicts as soon as possible. None of them have ever seen anything like it. When they see a live press conference from some party leader, followed by a dissenting opinion...it will blow their minds and the fairness and good sense of it will sway them toward the democratic system.