[Mrs. Don-o]

I agree that is it very hard to distinguish between innocent and guilty, combatant and noncombatant in this war. Virtually all of the vicious islamofascist killers have been technically "ciivilians" (not in uniform, not under a recognized chain of command, not representing a nation or state, not having political objectives which would be negotiable as "terms of peace.") That --- plus the fact that they target noncombatants -- is what makes them terrorists, not soldiers.

Nevertheless, it is our responsibility to act as justly as it is in our power to do: destroying the capability of the terrorists to carry out armed operations; punishing the guilty in a way that is swift, severe, and certain; and shielding the innocent.

If you throw up your hands and say, "Oh, t'hell with all that 'shield the innocent' stuff," you've given the evildoers their most important victory: you've abandoned whatever was "Judeo-Christian" or "American" about your way of thinking and acting, and you've made yourself morally indistinguishable from Muhammad and the fiends of hell.

[Little Ray]

Last time I checked Judeo-Christians and "the American Way" burned their way from Chattanooga to the Atlantic Ocean, pacified the Indians by starving them out (killing off the buffalo herds), waged unrestricted submarine warefare against Japanese merchant shipping, pursued daylight bombing campaigns against just about everything remotely of military value in Occupied Europe, firebombed Tokyo and nuked Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

THAT is how you wage war. Kill the enemy. Destroy their support. Break their hearts.

[Phantom Patriot]

I agree that is it very hard to distinguish between innocent and guilty, combatant and noncombatant in this war

It is virtually impossible until they blow themselves up or make a statement to the media.

and noncombatant in this war. Virtually all of the vicious islamofascist killers have been technically "ciivilians" (not in uniform, not under a recognized chain of command, not representing a nation or state,

Yet they are supported by Nations that claim to be our friends.

That --- plus the fact that they target noncombatants -- is what makes them terrorists, not soldiers

So then how do you propose to do all of those legal stunts?
And again to what purpose and good to place on trial the pieces of a dead terrorist.

[Phantom Patriot]

With all due respect to your opinion. I would have to suspect if you were issued a weapon, and then tied your hands and sent to the streets of anywhere these Muslims of peace are harbored you'd be dead in no time trying to distinguish who you should kill. A true war cannot be won in this fashion. And many defenders will die if it continues to be fought in this manner.

Perhaps the elder Bush had good reason not to commit ground troupes. Ahh with age comes wisdom.

[Sun]

"I agree that is it very hard to distinguish between innocent and guilty, combatant and noncombatant in this war. Virtually all of the vicious islamofascist killers have been technically "ciivilians" (not in uniform, not under a recognized chain of command, not representing a nation or state, not having political objectives which would be negotiable as "terms of peace.") That --- plus the fact that they target noncombatants -- is what makes them terrorists, not soldiers.
Nevertheless, it is our responsibility to act as justly as it is in our power to do: destroying the capability of the terrorists to carry out armed operations; punishing the guilty in a way that is swift, severe, and certain; and shielding the innocent.

If you throw up your hands and say, "Oh, t'hell with all that 'shield the innocent' stuff," you've given the evildoers their most important victory: you've abandoned whatever was "Judeo-Christian" or "American" about your way of thinking and acting, and you've made yourself morally indistinguishable from Muhammad and the fiends of hell."

Good post.