What Possible Plan For Iraq?

One could hope that the Insurgents would just quit or somehow be talked into giving up, but the evidence of their sacrifices and zeal in taking on their opponents would tend to discount such hopes. So what other course or possibility is there? What possible plan would work?

First of all, as most insurgencies, unconventional warfare, guerrilla wars, etc. are fed and supplied by outside sources--Iran and Syria come to mind. Since they can't be held accountable overtly they must be dealt with indirectly and unconventionally. Communications between the insurgents and their benefactors must be cut. That takes a lot of man power and equipment as well as planning. The next step is controlling the populace. The British in Malaysia cordoned off the populace from the insurgents to starve out the insurgents. We attempted the same thing in Vietnam--not much help there, and Iraq is even more difficult. Boots on the ground and checkpoints only would work if there is a plan behind the strategy. There is too much movement allowed. Too much uncontrolled vehicular movement. Not enough intelligence on possible insurgents and their movements. People should be ID'd by tribal and religious affiliations, jobs or vocations, vehicles they own, work schedules, etc. ID's that can be called in and checked by computers. Long range movements by people should be monitored and passes given out. Strict curfews at night. Controlled access to cities and towns. This would restrict access to insurgents by making them try to enter by other routes. Areas should be cordoned off in some fashion and movement between each of the areas controlled by checking cargoes and people. Establish "no-man's land" areas surrouding cities, which would make it easier to spot infiltrators.

There is no easy or sure way of fighting an unconventional war. It takes huge amounts of resources and will--on both sides. The advantage in most cases lies with the natives for they have the most to gain. One might ask what does the U.S. hope to gain by "winning" in Iraq? Wouldn't it be easier to fight them over here than there? Where we have the advantage?