I trust you are right about that ROE, Guest. If you are, then what I suggest is exactly what Iraqis should do, without delay. Non-violent resistance en masse. But I don't think they are aware enough or confident enough to get it together to do that.

I was suggesting that some American units (or individual soldiers) might panic if that happened and break the ROE. Such things happened in India now and then with the British, and it only hastened their exit as a colonial power.

You said: "In a "perfect " world, we all could let the misguided blow up whomever they like, and forgive them. I would rather stop them, and prevent the loss of innocent lives. "

No. That's not what I am suggesting. I suggested forgiveness, I did not suggest refusing to defend oneself and uphold civil laws! One must be able to take forceful action to prevent any such violent and unlawful behaviour wherever it arises. That is job 1. Job 2 is to forgive, and not hold lasting grudges.

It's simple. If a suicide bomber tries to blow up people, you prevent him by any means possible. That involves police, intelligence agents, and military safeguards. If he succeeds anyway, you do NOT use it as an excuse to go roaring off and viciously attack some other people who happen belong to HIS tribe or culture. Israel has traditionally responded to every terrorist attack with a retaliatory attack, and it often kills civilians. They have no conception of forgiveness. The Muslim zealots also have traditionally responded to every Israeli attack with a retaliatory attack. They likewise have no conception of forgiveness. And THAT is why they are both going down a long road of disaster together, like two cats with their tails tied together...

If either one of them were to learn forgiveness and sincerely practice it...for a year...the vicious cycle of violence and counter-violence would be broken.

I have NEVER suggested passively standing by and doing nothing to stop an attack by a suicide bomber or by anyone else. Never. Everyone is fully entitled to resist an attack or an invasion of their land by whatever means necessary. That is not lack of forgiveness...it's just plain common sense self-defence. You don't have to hate people to defend yourself. Lack of forgiveness occurs when the attack is used to justify your own future attack on some other people somewhere else, and the carrying on of a vendetta.

Again, you are putting thoughts in my head that were never there in order to score an illusory point. Nope. I am not telling you to stand helplessly by and let people kill other people. No way. I'm just telling you not to nurse hatreds.

Sorry. No cigar.