In WW2, there were lots of civilian casualties. Women and children were killed indiscriminately in attacks on Berlin, Dresden, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki. Both Germany and Japan completely lost interest in war since then.
As far as the Global Jihad is concerned, there is no real military. Osama was a civilian. The 9/11 hijackers were civilians. Do we differentiate between civilians who plant bombs, civilians who teach the bombers how to make bombs, civilian imams who exhort civilians to Jihad, and the civilians who finance Jihad?
PapaBear,
Thank you for your post.
So, interesting point here. Let me reply two fold.
1. Any “civilian” waging war on us is fair game as he/she has crossed over into armed conflict. Firing a tomahawk at a “civilian” camp where bombs are being built is fair play. No one questions that. The sadness over there is that these idiots sometimes have their family members there. What the USA does NOT do is retaliate against 9-11 by firebombing Kabul (which back in the olden days would have been fair game)
2. As far as Global Jihad goes, it is NOT being nurtured in vacuum. Iran and Syria provide overt support to the Hezbollah with money, bases, training. So, the goverments of Iran and Syria are in effect in WAR with us. Regarding Pakistan, it has now become clear, that they are doing the same with Al Qaeda and Taliban. Saudi Arabia is an interesting case. While their military and goverment is not supporting Al Qaeda, they have the ENTIRE religious framework of their country (a framework that is STATE supported) actively supporting Al Qaeda. Those imams raise money, provide weapons and training and help recruit
So, the question is whether Saudi Arabia is to blame and should be attacked. My answer is yes. You cannot just say that the Saudi Army is anti Al Qaeda when the cancer is being promoted by the religious sector in that country
Now keep in mind, we will NEVER invade Saudi Arabia as long as we continue to import 60% of our oil. Saudi Arabia knows this and that is why they choose to not do anything about the Wahabbi extremists.