[Non-Sequitur]

Total - flat out war.

The problem at this stage is total, flat out war on whom? Theoretically we won the war and have our allies setting up a friendly, democratic government. At this point we can't go around flattening their electorate.

[GrandEagle]

flat out war on whom?
Very good question.
The first error in thought that we have is that the government that is being set up there is a friendly, democratic government. The people in power are just glad that we picked them to be in power.
The folks over there have no desire to understand Freedom or Liberty. They could care less about these things except to the extent that they are on the top of the heap.
Freedom, Democratic process, and Liberty requires that one is prepared to allow others the freedom of thought.
This area never has and IMHO never will fall into this category as long as Islam in any form is present.
The only thing that Islam understands, and more importantly RESPECTS, is raw, brute, force.
They "negotiate" from a thought process of "what can I con the infidels into believing now".
If we have run out of the ability to determine who the enemy is, or the national will to destroy that enemy, then it is time to come home and prepare for the next time.

IMHO - respectfully,
GE