What does this mean? They invaded a neighbor and got shot for their efforts, conscript or no. "Imperial arrogance" is a meaningless propaganda phrase.
If Bush had marched on to Baghdad, he might have accomplished something. The murder of people desperately attempting to retreat back to Iraq was a disgusting act which comes close to genocide and certainly violates the rules of war.
No, that is more propaganda. Shooting at retreating troops is not outside ANY "rules of war," since you may well have to fight them again if you do not do so. If, in fact, Bush had taken your advice we WOULD have had to do so. Sorry, it may have been sad and unfortunate, but troops in a war they started are fair game no matter which way they're heading at the time.
Compare that with the relatively gentle hand of Iraq in Kuwait "if you're searching for moral equivalency".
Aren't we forgetting who invaded whom? "Gentle hand?" Are you seriously suggesting we give the Iraqi invaders some sort of gratitude for not killing more of their innocent neighbors than they did?
They were pawns. One imperial overlord forced them into an army. Another one slaughtered them because of it. The whole game is disgusting. And don't forget that the US bankrolled Saddam before he moved into Kuwait.
The million Iraqis killed by the US embargo are also pawns. There isn't even any good reason for this one.