Some
military experts are thinking that America''s firepower
strategy in Iraq is misguided. They recall the same one used by General Westmoreland in the Vietnam War, the war where the U.S was lost, emphasizing more on aggressive approach than winning the hearts and minds of the people. But none is more concerened about it than Newt Gingrich, former House speaker and member of the Defense Policy Board- a group which regularly consults with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. In this interview with Newsweek, Gingrich expressed his worries about the Bush
administration''s handling of the situation in Iraq. He contends that the U.S leans more toward military strategy than making allies, one of the things that he argues that the administration didn''t understand. He
says further that the U.S should''ve put up a new Iraqi governent, albeit imperfect, because he believes that "only Iraqis can
win in Iraq. On the contrary, amidst the rumors that George W. Bush''s "
exit strategy" of bringing home the troops in time for next year''s November elections, he says it would be a mistake. Pullling them out, he believes, would make the guerillas think that they can win by outlasting the Americans. For him, the "exit strategy" should be
victory, but not through brute force.
More summaries about the Dissent in the Bunker (Newsweek December 15, 2003)