[HiTech RedNeck]

I would think it a pity to let Al-Jazeera set the tone on this issue, to show nicely edited clips of coalition troops cutting these kids down. We have an equally valid point to make about how abusive Saddam was to recruit this band of little ninjas. If that is indeed the mystery fighters being referred to.

[truth_seeker]

"I would think it a pity to let Al-Jazeera set the tone on this issue, to show nicely edited clips of coalition troops cutting these kids down."

For that reason (avoiding bad publicity) I think we would prefer to capture them alive, taking the risk that in the long run, they might need killing when they are older.

We don't always get to do exactly what we would prefer. We would prefer to kill no unarmed non-combatant civilians, but it cannot be completely avoided.

Likewise we cannot avoid killing 14 year olds, if they shoot at us and refuse surrender, and our troopers' lives are on the line.

War is dangerous, risky, messy. Sometimes in the movies the bad guys look good, and the good guys look bad. In this small aspect, this war is a little like such a movie scene.

Unlike a movie, it is a "one take" scene. Play the cards you get dealt, even if the deal is dirty.