[El Gato]

There is a philosophy of war, I think argued by no less than Sun Tzu, that says leave your enemy a "golden bridge" to retreat rather than annihilating him and you will destroy him ever so surely.

This doesn't work with Democrats or terrorists. If not annihilated, they will be back biting you in butt and/or trying to kill you next week.

[LS]

Funny, that's not what Maj. Bob says in his book ("Major Bob Unvarnished"). I think he'd know.

The idea is that there is not a commitment to the death by all opponents---only a few---and to allow the enemy a way out so that you do not force ALL to fight to the death, but to fritter away and splinter. Sun Tzu. Pretty smart guy.