I say we go in and get the POWs and the Apache Longbow back NOW.
Secure the perimeter and excise.

The other day when the Iraqis were looking for a pilot near and in the river we should have sent them a strafing in the least.

It is ridiculous to be pussyfooting about, now that we are in the thick of things, dodging real bullets. Lets go in with overwhelming focus, force and determination and get the heck over with.

Now that we are in a war. Anyone from the opposite side with a gun/bomb is the enemy no matter what their location in the operation theater or their garb. A soldier cannot fight without the freedom to use weapons during a war.

I suppose GW is still trying to make sure that people don't think that he's going in for any other reason than to get rid of Saddam and his cronnies.

Hi Sflori,

Just heard about the projected costs of this little confrontation. I tell ya there are easier ways of showing the world that democracy is better.

Can any one think of a better way for the US to spend those funds?

Even now one could craft a micro experiment.
Take a few sample villages and isolate them. To a few go in clean house and bring up the std of living, to the others show them whats happening in the other villages. I am sure before long the villagers will throw out the goons so that they can get the fruits from the democratic basket.

The best thing the democratic nations of the world can do is band together and lift the standard of level for the model, it will sell itself. Can you imagine how quickly the "voters" of the countries with other forms of government will vote for democracy.

It is sad that the Apache was destroyed, I would have voted to bring it out as a symbolic gesture. We should be going after the captured soldiers ASAP to bring em back now.