Just got back from Fla, so I'm joining this late, but I do recall in a recent interview that Tommy Franks is not planing to take out any civilian infastructure items like water treatment plants or oil refinaries, since they would be needed to help in the rebuilding effort after the war. There have been some reports of Iraqis stock piling American and British uniforms to "stage atrocities", and maybe the would-be "shields" got wind of this.

When last I heard, the way they plan to fight this war won't be a repeat of the last Gulf War. The concept is to locate some of Saddam's best units and completely decimate them, as an example to the others closer to Bhagdad. (This is a variation of the old Mountain of Skulls approach, and is very effective in dealing with more primative societies). There is no indication of any need to take out water treatment plants, hospitals and the like.

I think the rules for the Iraqis will be simple; "Until you deliver the body of Saddam to us, do not carry a weapon or be seen around one, or you will die." And I don't care how flowery Arabic is, that message can be printed on match books, and dropped in ahead of time.

As for the "Human Shields", maybe they would like to volunteer to sit in front of our hospitals, schools, etc. or inside an Israeli discotheque. They were certainally too late for the World Trade Centers, but there is still time...