ping...
Brahimi would prefer to re-install Saddam.
This, and only this, is the reason they were so damaging. As far as abuse, it's nothing compared to what their side does, but we had and were proud of the image as a people not inclined to such things.
And if this was in fact done to gather intelligence, why can't they just say that loudly and plainly, instead of retreating from it?
Your enemy is despicable, and yet you can't assert your superiority? That's the problem w/pre-emption, as the agressor you're hamstrung, hence the Military Offical's statement (whoever it was) that we can't lose this militarily but we can't win it militarily either.
Hopefully, the sane Iraqis will begin to take the reigns and do a little of their own dirty work.