[randomhero97]

If you're intent upon genocide, sure.

That's such a strawman and you know it.

Unfortunately, these people have an ideology so ingrained in their head's that they will never stop being our enemy.

Neither ended the resistance of the governments we were at war with, as keeping hold of the reins of power superseded any concerns about the suffering of their civilian populations. Do you expect the Taleban would be any different?

Didn't the allies win in Europe and the Pacific? As for the Taliban, I thought the whole goal of the War on Terror was to eliminate any an all supporters of global terrorism. That means there is going to be civilian casualties. I would rather it be them than Americans.

[Hoplite]

That's such a strawman and you know it.

No, I don't, and sadly you don't either. Our troops can't be intelligently equated in aim or method to, for example, the Interhamwe, however strongly you feel that all wars were created or are prosecuted equally.

Didn't the allies win in Europe and the Pacific?

Yes, but those victories were not won by killing civilians. If they were, why didn't Germany surrender after the Hamburg firebombing in July of '43, and Japan after the Tokyo firebombing of March '45? Or for that matter, why didn't Great Britain surrender during the Blitz of 1940?

I thought the whole goal of the War on Terror was to eliminate any an all supporters of global terrorism

If we kill civilians in our prosecution of that goal, we'll just wind up with more supporters of global terrorism - hence the present ROE in Afghanistan.

Do yourself a favor, have a look at FM 3-24 (PDF) and familiarize yourself with the subject matter, specifically, sections 7-30 through 7-36, and sections E-5 & E-6.