Quote Originally Posted by BDC
I'm sure if America had no issues with killing civilians then they would be 'achieving' as much in Iraq as in Chechnia. Not that Russia has sorted that out really at all, despite brutality on a large scale.
Excellent point, the two have totally different rules of engagement. Hell, domestically the police have totally different rules of engagement an unarmed suspect can get shot 40 times in NYC and its called an anamoly and a crime, in Russia thats called procedure.

People never accept the fact that the U.S. military is in a region where forever "might made right" and the only person you trust to protect you are those willing to do so by unrelenting, unleashed might. There is no trust in the rule of Law protected by peace there has only been the rule of one protected by his murders. In the middle of this is a U.S. military with rules of engagement that in comparison have them trying to kill with kindness.

An Iraq war veteran told me this, "Its like putting you in front of a firing squad with a water pistol and saying you can only shoot when fired upon." He did go on to say that despite this feeling, its the only way to maintain the principle in our mission and that the contradiction is what has to be overcome to have success.