Hmmm...

Have I not clarified by now that it is the political leaders I was referring to, not the soldiers?

Okay, then. Steve (Norton1), I apologize without reservation for having upset you by saying "What a bunch of babies the warriors of America are!" I spoke hastily and without care. I do not regard American soldiers as babies or cowards, and I doubt that anyone else does either, if he's had the displeasure of having to fight them. I regret causing offence to you, your daughter, or anyone else by my statement.

Next time I will be sure to say "armchair warriors in high places" in order to make it clear who I am referring to (I hope).

Jack - You're right about that ("any other government which afford it would do the same). The British used fast-firing rifles and early machine guns to massacre African tribesmen by the thousands and thousands at battles like Ulundi and in the Sudan after Karthoum. It was pitiable, and entirely predictable. The Africans fought and died anyway, because they appeared to have no other choice except to lie down and surrender their way of life to a foreign invader without resistance. That's the way it goes in power politics. To the victors the spoils. Just don't pretend that it's not what it is...conquest for imperial gain. (But we'll disagree about that, in the case of Iraq.)

- LH