Hey Bobert,

We actually totally agree on something!!!

"If the 101st can't handle a situation without inflicting the maximum damage then they ought not be there. Same for any other units with that narrow a training. Anything less is a guarentee for failure in Iraq."

As for the second paragraph, I also agree, but with some qualifications.

"And as fir the use of maximum force, IMO, it is both a mistake from a military science perspective and a human perspective."

Each situation has to be weighed up on its own merits - In the instance under discussion in this thread - I would go along with the view point taken, and assessment, of the officer commanding. His primary responsibility is to his own men, no-one else. To have them (200 men) wait around until the occupants of the house decided either to surrender themselves (highly unlikely), or commit suicide, would have put the troops under his command needlessly at risk, and probably have turned a minor incident with few casualties into a major catastrophy, with a far greater number of casualties.

GUEST - 28 Jul 03 - 12:31 PM, still waiting for your PM - but am not holding my breath.