| i don't see how this is different than our "normal" targets.. every target is civilian when you're fighting a guerilla war. it's definitely not going to win over hearts and minds - although i think we lost that fight a while ago.
the article didn't mention any casualties - that's more important than property damage. of course, when we move into fallujah, we'll most likely reduce it to dust. and what will happen to the people of fallujah? *who knows, who cares - says the bushista*
obviously, our forces are trying to "soften" targets before we launch the ground invasion. i'm not entirely sure what the mission in fallujah iis supposed to do though.. the said reason is to quash the rebels that have been hiding there for some time. but this flies right in the face of the broader mission to win hearts and minds. lots of people are leaving according to that article. those who remain will fight and probably die. those who left will come back and become the next wave of insurgents.
will we succeed? well, i guess that depends on which mission you're most concerned with. we can beat anyone on the battlefield.. but we aren't going to win friends by blowing up their homes. |