ARGUMENTATIVE PAPER

Argumentative paper

Argumentative paper

Introduction

The main purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast U.S. counterinsurgency operations in two wars: the Philippine Insurrection and Operation Iraqi Freedom. For this purpose the paper will focus on following points: Three factors inhibited U.S. efforts in both wars: (1) a preference for kinetic operations? (2) poor understanding of cultural terrain? and (3) a failure to conduct effective information operations. In both conflicts? U.S. forces combated Muslim radicals who were willing to die rather than submit to U.S. policies. U.S. failures in Operation Iraqi Freedom are not new; rather? American Soldiers have confronted many of the current obstacles to success in previous conflicts.

Analysis

The American way of war includes mass? power? and the use of sophisticated smart weapons. However? large main force engagements that characterized conflict in World War II? Korea? and Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom in the Middle East have become the exceptions in American warfare. (www.defenselink.mil) Since the American Revolution? the Army has conducted stability operations? which have included counterinsurgency operations. Over the past half-century alone? the Army gained considerable experience in fighting insurgents in Southeast Asia (Vietnam? Laos? and Philippines)? Latin America (Colombia? Peru? El Salvador? Guatemala? and Nicaragua)? Africa (Somalia)? Southwest Asia (Afghanistan)? and now the Middle East (Iraq). Dealing with counterinsurgency since the Vietnam War has fallen largely on SOF; however? conventional forces have frequently come into contact with insurgent forces that seek to neutralize the inherent advantages of size? weaponry? and conventional force TTP. Insurgents use a combination of actions that include terror? assassination? kidnapping? murder? guerrilla tactics such as ambushes? booby traps? and improvised explosive devices aimed at US and multinational forces? the host country's leaders? and ordinary citizens. (www.defenselink.mil)

On the other hand the Iraq War or the Occupation of Iraq? referred to by the U.S. military as Operation Iraqi Freedom? is an ongoing military campaign which began on March 20? 2003 with the invasion of Iraq by a multinational force led by troops from the United States and the United Kingdom. Prior to the war? the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom claimed that Iraq's alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) posed an imminent threat to their security and that of their coalition allies. United Nations weapons inspectors found no evidence of WMD. At the time Hans Blix? the lead weapons inspector? advised the UN Security Council that Iraq was cooperating with inspections and that the confirmation of disarmament through inspections could be achieved within "months" if Iraq remained cooperative. Nevertheless? the US government announced that "diplomacy has failed"? abruptly advised the UN weapons inspectors to immediately pull out of Iraq and decided to go to war. (Allawi, 2007, 544)

Where as the Philippine-American War was an armed military conflict between the United States and the Philippines? which arose from the First Philippine Republic struggle against United States annexation of the islands. The war was a continuation of the Philippine struggle for independence? following the Philippine Revolution? led by Emilio ...