[Tree of Liberty]

but to give them heart

I disagree. This kind of warfare will assuage some of the concerns of the civilian non-coms, but enemy regimes will likely be even more fearful since we have shown we can and will topple their respective governments. Despots don't care about their population, they care about their own lives, and those are the lives put under direct threat by U.S. military action.

[AFPhys]

... enemy regimes will likely be even more fearful since we have shown we can and will topple their respective governments.

You have a good point there. Insofar as we are able to maintain the "heart & minds" of the civilian population in the midst of such a devastatingly effective attack, that may serve to enhance both the fear of the governments, and the respect of the civilians.