Interesting scenario

[Don Corleone]

I think you have to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater, Tribesman. No weapons system is 100% guaranteed to avoid collateral damage. If the rule is 0% collateral damage, a lot of bad men are going to get away with a lot of bad actions, simply by hiding among civilians. Even domestic police forces cannot guarantee no civilian casualties.

The Israelis have done a horrible, woefully inadequate job of target selection. I've said this numerous times, and I do not consider them to be employing reasonable restraint. Their own people don't even seem to think so, and Mr. Olmert has a lot of explaining to do, at home and abroad.

So yes, in response to your 'interesting scenario that in no way mirrors other current event threads', of course Turkey, Iran and Syria would be held accountable if they did not take all rational precautions to limit if not outright avoid civilian casualities.

I think where we all get stuck is what is a rational precaution.... no firing at all if your enemy chooses to hide among civlians? Looks like the enemy automatically wins, no? So, if I want to conquer Mexico, should I just send paramilitary units down there to take over a couple of appartment buildings and fire out of the buildings since I know no action can be taken against me?