[over3Owithabrain]

I'd like all these callous puffed-chests around here who so casually dismiss our dead and cheer the good PR of spared civilans in Iraq to try to win a fight while being told to not use full force. Our military is having their hands tied by political concerns. If this was going to be the strategy, we shouldn't have bothered doing this.

[kabar]

Agree with you. This is way we fought in Vietnam. We allowed political concerns to handcuff our military. If total victory is not the objective, we will either lose the war or the subsequent "peace." Look at our last major military involvements--Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. We continue to live with these legacies.

[GeorgeWashington777]

I have to agree! I've been worried about what cost to our troops are we willing to be able to not take out enemy or enemy targets!

[Rebelbase]

I agree also. This has been my one reservation about this entire confilct. If we don't go in for total annhilation, then a large portion of our casualties will be brought on by our own mercy.

I wonder what the formula the President will use to calcuate the equivalent of Iraqi civilian dead to one US soldier dead?

At what point is the US loss of life so great that mercy is thrown out and total war is engaged?

[johnb838]

Our military is having their hands tied by political concerns

Exactly what happend in Vietnam. I thought we learned our lesson. I thought we were going to bring overwhelming force to get this over with quickly. It is scaring the crap out of me everytime I hear the brass blame something bad on our desire to not kill civilians. If civilians are in the way it is on the iraqi regime (not going to call it saddam anymore) not on us. They are the butchers. They are the torturers. Hold them by the nose and kick 'em in the ass. Slit their bellies and use their guts to grease the treads of our tanks. When our boys stick their hand into the puddle of goo that one minute previous was their best friends face, they'll know what to do. LET THEM!

(Ooops, got off on my General Patton schtick)