Pride Goeth Before a Fall(ujah?)

I was listening to CBC's "As It Happens" program, and they were interviewing a US Army Sargent about the current attempt by the US forces to take over the city of Fallujah in Iraq.

From the Sargent's mouth comes the following gem of hubris: "These terrorists are facing the greatest military machine the world has ever seen". Followed by "The outcome is not in doubt, it is only a question of time"

Puhleeze! Give me a break. The American army is no doubt the most technologically advanced army of the day. But then again, look at the overwhelming differences between the Viet Cong and the US army of the 1960s. If technology wins wars, then Vietnam should have folded like a bad poker hand.

Don't misunderstand me - I respect the firepower at the hands of the US military - it is truly quite awesome. But it is the height of arrogance for anyone to believe that because they are "the biggest" that they will prevail.

It doesn't take a genius to see that there is far more going on in Iraq than just resistance in Fallujah. Cities are big - even a relatively small city like Fallujah has thousands of points of entry and exit - and those are just the obvious ones. The insurgents/terrorists/freedom fighters (pick your name for them) in Fallujah can no doubt come and go with far more ease than the Americans think. (Besides - just what does a terrorist look like?)

The troops on the ground in Fallujah are facing the most brutal, difficult type of combat possible - urban warfare. I wish them luck - they are going to need it to come home in one piece. Their political masters will have to answer for their own deeds in the fullness of time - and likely to whatever God they happen to worship eventually. (Given the wrathful God that many 'born-again' Christians like to reference, I'm not sure I'd want to be in their shoes at the time of reckoning...)