[bluester]

Moreover, we could also employ an ancient and devastating tactic: simply lay siege to Baghdad, cutting off water, food and electricity, while announcing that civilians were free to leave the city.

Humanitarian war?

[KeyWest]

There never was nor ever will be a humanitarian war. War is the business of killing.

[wtc911]

The last strategy to employ would be an old fashioned siege. What do you imagine the ramifications would be in the Arab/Muslim world if we were to surround the city for months while TV images of starving civilians filled CNN's primetime? How do you imagine Europe would react? Or our own left/students? Remember, a seige takes months. Not an option.

Also, the writer gets in wrong in asking if 1,000 US lives are a fair price to pay for ridding the Iraqis of Saddam. The real question sounds more like are 10,000 US lives a fair price to pay to rid us (Americans) of the inevitable risk we face if Saddam is left unchecked?

I hope that we would not invade Iraq just to "free" the Iraqis. That's their job. People get the leaders that they allow. Our job is to keep us safe. Any other benefit is icing.