[Terriergal]

I should say I agree to an extent. But how do you distinguish anymore? Women and children strapping bombs to themselves, with the blessing of the men and other leaders or at least with them condoning it?

We know that these nutcases won't stop at any self destructive action to make their point. If we say we won' shoot X kind of people, they WILL USE them as shields.

[inquest]

Do you think a few people on the Allied side didn't break a few "rules" trying to deter the enemy? Get real.

I wasn't demanding an anal attachment to every rule of "civilized" warfare. But when a government makes an official policy out of killing non-combatants (however distasteful these people are) while at the same time refusing to strike where it would get them the most mileage, it's a prescription for perpetual misery.

But you can't go and attack a nation until you have support for the action. I think no matter what they do people will complain.

Support from whom? It's true that Washington might pull some funding if Israel goes after Arafat & Co., but seriously, how is all that funding really helping Israeli security? I suspect that what it really helps is Israeli bureaucracy, which is why they're so attached to it. Taking out the leadership of Fatah, Hamas, IJLP, PFLP, etc., is not something I think would create much of a financial burden.

And you're right, people will complain no matter what, so they might as well do the right thing to get this war over with as quickly as possible.

If we say we won' shoot X kind of people, they WILL USE them as shields.

I'm not doubting that, and I'm not denying that soldiers out in the field may have to make some unfortunate decisions in order to defend themselves, but this article is about punishment, not simple defense against potential attackers.

[wtc911]

You keep saying WE, as in "what are WE supposed to do?" and
"If WE say WE won't shoot X kind of people..." Are YOU part of the group that is making these decisions to kill? Is the WE that you put yourself and the rest of us in the US orIsrael? If it's the US then please advise me when WE went to war with the Palis, and when WE should say to the world that WE will shoot non-combatants as a policy.