[Byron_the_Aussie]

..during WW2 in the pacific we did just this very thing to many of the islands in the Solomons to cut down on loses and to break the enemies will, we starved many islands during those campaigns, this is no different...

It is totally different, because in the Pacific island campaign there weren't a heap of innocent civilians involved, like there would be in your siege of Baghdad scenario. Can you imagine how the world's media would use footage produced by your 'starve 'em out!' scenario to damage the US? All you and the rest of the keyboard Pattons are doing is pushing neutral countries into China's sphere.

[mark the shark]

Byron,
Please stop the hand wringing. Firstly, there are ways to allow civilians out of the city before we close the gates. Secondly, the world media didn't do squat to shift much of the worlds' opinion when the Balkans imploded, a little whining and a bunch of "Please Uncle Sugar in American can you please help us clean out our outhouse again!". Thirdly, NEVER TAKE GENERAL PATTONS NAME IN VAIN AGAIN! :) . Fourth, any body out there that is still neutral after what happened to us on 9-11 is an active bogie on my radar. Target them and put them on the Christmas list, because they're next!
No hard feelings or anything, this is not personal, this is just business, a deadly business but business none-the-less.
My father who served this country through 2 wars put it quite succinctly many years ago when we had a little talk about the birds and the bees and the world and stuff. I Quote,'Son,there are just some Sons of Bitches that need Killing!', and when he said it there wasn't a single bit of hatred, sarcasm, or malice in his voice. He meant it to his core, because I know he had been to Hell and lived to tell about. We Are Noone To Be Trifled With! And I believe "W" meant what he said, "Dead or Alive, it makes no difference to me!"