Getting back to Jenin: the IDF understood that IEDs would be hidden all over the place, so they used bulldozers extensively to clear paths, right through homes in many cases. This worked as a tactic, causing the IEDs to come unwired, or blow up harmlessly agains the blade.
But it came at a price: it made that one section of Jenin look like a rubble pile. Those were the pictures of Jenin the world saw.
When the IDF did send troops into alleys and homes, they took very hard casualties as entire squads were sometimes blown up. How can you find every IED, when they can be hidden anywhere? From grenade-sized, to multiple anti-tank mines stacked one on the other?
I don't expect we'll use the big dozers to clear safe paths, it looks too bad on TV. Instead we'll send squads of Marines.... I wish them only success.
But I really wish they were just kept on cordon and sniper duty, while the heavy work was done from the air... missiles they can't see, and can't defend against. Downloaded IDF style, to limit collateral damage. Like it or not, the "media front" is critical, since it can affect the American will to continue the war, or lead to disaffection, low home-front morale, and possibly a (shudder) Kerry victory.
I forget who it was who recently said something to the effect that "in a democracy, public opinion counts for as much as the rule of law."