"The purpose of combat, and war in general, is to force your enemy to do what you want them to do."

War is a process of economic attrition. The result of the attrition is that the side suffering the most attrition eventually gives in and does what the other side wants. One variable often not given sufficient weight is the morale of the other side. As the Battles of Britain & Germany (Bomber Harris' "Bomb the crap out of Germany") and Stalingrad testify, the side that blinks first loses.

And as was proved by Bomber Harris' failure, no war has ever been won by 'bombing the crap out of them' - it can only be won by boots on the ground, for as long as you keep the boots there. People left to the 'freedom' of their own devices (Freedom for Irag! Ha!) will tend to do just as they damn well please, as Ireland shows...