[Publius6961]

But those and other distinctions are part of why we're fighting. We believe such rules are important to civilized life; our opponents do not.

Sophistry had rotted our culture so thoroughly that many tend to accept it as "civilized" sophistication. Personally I can smell BS, still.

Those familiar with Winston Churchill's life are well aware of his unique position to comment on things both political and martial. One of his observations recurs in my mind as I see this continuing debate.
During the dark days of WWII, when things looked grimmest and hopeless, and unconventional warfare being fought (and criticized), he made his famous observation:

No "good" civilized society was ever saved from oblivion by the actions of girlie men. (Paraphrased) Or rule-book jockeys, I might add.

[Ispy4u]

Where has your concern for rule book monkeys been for the past two years?

Why do you wise souls wait until now to want to untie our hands?

The American Military will fight it's wars in accordance with accepted methods approved by our leaders, the elected civilian command structure and their officials.

To expect us to do anything other than follow the rules you have given us is crazy. Expect us to be creative, innovative, unpredictable, and overwhelming, but you have to ensure the military as a whole is accountable to follow the rules given us. To do otherwise begs for third world military dictatorship to visit you personally.

[nightdriver]

"Personally I can smell BS....

I agree.

I think Ispy is just a disrupter who found a fellowtraveller in Mr. Bookman.

If burglers broke into Ispy4u's home and proceded to rob him at gunpoint, he sounds like he would limit his response to pulling out his rulebook and reading it to them.