Well, seeing that I have been acused of being "heartless", "jingoistic", a "tool of Bush and his warmongers" perhaps it would be proper to reply.

War is not a game of "Space Invaders" - Count the score and press the replay button. People die horribly, its not like some sanitised movie. The question is how can death and suffering be minimised, note the word minimised

I am afraid that the "Useful Idiots" will bolster Iraqui determination to resist, and make a war more likely. Wolfgang puts this point very well.

If Saddam is allowed to continue how many more Iraqui people will suffer at the hand of his secret police ??? Is that death toll to continue so that those with an anti-american agenda can continue to " feel good" Will the death and torture role in a years time exceed those putive deaths in any war ???

There are many unsavory governments in this world, starting with GWB Junior, probable founder of a fundamentalist state. (suggest read Heinliens "Revolt in 2001" aka "If this goes On") - But don't make the mistake of thinking that nothing can be done.

A True Story,

In the Automn of 1944 my fathers troop of SP Guns was holding the line in Holland, across the canal the Wermacht positions were being visted on a regular basis by a Red Cross marked vehicle. As was civilized this vehicle was not fired at. Suspicions were voiced that its visits were not concerned with medical aid, but had more to do with regular supply of ammunition and food. After a few days word came through from the Dutch resistance that this was a regular resupply vehicle, orders were to destroy it. A 17pndr round was fired. The resultant explosions as the 'ambulance' brewed up proved the point. Funny how Red Cross supplies explode with tracer ammunition cooking off ! Shortly after this the Wermacht Strong Point surrendered.

A question I will ask is this. It was a breach of the "Geneava Convention" - True. Were more British and German lives saved by this "War Crime" than would have been lost by a frontal attack against the enemy across the canal against well ammunitioned and fed troops ?????

Of course as we saw last time, puting Red Crosses around your weapons, or placing command bunkers in air raid shelters may provide bloody pictures for CNN, but don't expect any commander to risk his troops lives on this basis.

Gareth