As I was saying...

I have no problem with the concept of war as an absolute as detailed by Clausewitz... it's a sound philosophical argument that refuses to back off the fact that, sometimes, the only way to solve a problem is to kill the other guy (and everything that helps the other guy). I get it - and our german friend made it pretty clear that when you've gotten to that point - you really need to stop worrying about who you're killing until such time as you decide that it's over.

But if that's how we're going to fight wars - we need to be a LOT more careful about whether we get into them. If the rule is 'war means everyone over there can die at any time' - ok... but you have to SELL it that way to the American people. Don't tell them we're careful - we only kill bad guys - and then tell US Army Snipers to "shoot all the taxi drivers". You can't have it both ways.