[Maringa]

I know this isn't what the Iraqui people are thinking about now, but if I were Iraqui (thinking in American terms), I would think that all that oil for food money going down the drain, since it was used to build palaces, not food aid. I wonder if these palaces going up in smoke have any impact or a sense of humiliation to the ruling party?

[Cboldt]

I wonder if these palaces going up in smoke have any impact or a sense of humiliation to the ruling party?

The palaces are symbolic of the regime, and the military planners are somewhat conflicted in how to handle them. Ideally, the bad guys would be killed, and the palaces left for the people. But, taking out the palaces is a sign to the public that the regime's power is small. I don't think of it as trying to humiliate the senses of the leaders, but instead, of lifting the general public OVER its soon-to-be-ex leaders.