Social Sense
Off-topic and with apologies in advance, I'm tagging you. I usually don't do memes, and I'll understand if you don't participate.
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I'll be back later to read this posting on the principles of war.
War is supposed to be awful. Otherwise, neither side has an incentive to bring an end to that war. I recall an old Star Trek episode along those lines.
I think that the United States made a terrible mistake by trying to prosecute a just war in Iraq. IMO, our forces should have gone in and leveled that Sunni triangle. Harsh? Yes. But the history of Islamic expansion shows us that Muslims respect a strong man. We haven't been that strong man, so now we are caught up in a horrible situation in Iraq. And I fear that the mess in Iraq is emboldening Iran.
Also, President Bush has failed to demonize the enemy, thus failing to unify our citizenry. Is it any wonder that some normally right-thinking Americans don't support the war?
While I DO believe George Bush is a good and decent man....and I DO NOT believe all the criminally silly accusations against him, Mustang is accurate in that our President has clearly (and not often enough) stated the exact nature of the war; whom our enemies are (and, thus, why this war is very much different than WW II [aka "The Good War"]; and - in general terms - how we must fight this war.
Others, chiefly in the Democratic Party and fringe elements, purposely undercut the efforts of our military forces. They either do this because they, themselves, are entirely self-centered knaves, or they are criminally stupid.
This will be a long war.
I have just returned from a long distance road trip through a number of states. I remain disgusted and dismayed at the horrific ignorance of most of the people I would hear in road side eateries, and motels. I expect, in addition to our President failing to hammer home the verities of this war and the pols (chiefly Democratic) ranting and whining against any efforts in support of their oaths of office ("..and protect against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.."), the media and "entertainment" industry are pompous fools that believe they are ever so intelligent. The vast majority, I would note, could not tell a dumpster from an Abrams tank..think a BLT is a bacon, lettuce and tomatoe sandwich and an LSD is a illegal (but, not for them) drug. Note: BLT in warfare = Battalion Landing Team. LSD = Landing Ship Dock (a largish amphibious Navy ship).
Like Mustang, I am disgusted. Most of my fellow country are mostly ignorant about their own military and its' importance in keeping their lives safe and free. They pay very little attention to the war and give scant attention to the really important issues of the day. Most encourage their children NOT to enlist in our armed forces! So, Mr. and Mrs. America, just who exactly is going to defend the country if your adult children do not?
I hope Mr. Bush "tightens up" in the waning days of his presidency. I hope that we elect a tough replacement...and not a Chamberlain. I hope our media and entertainers (most are in reality, the same), read - learn and then report the facts. I would wish our academics would come our of idealistic ivory towers and face the world as it is.
I fear for our country, and the world.
The “battlefield behavior” of Islamacists could not be further from the ethical standards associated with classic warfare....ah indeed..and yet the Libs still insist on compromise, and dialogue eh!..excellent work my friend!!! 
Mustang,
It is my pleasure to be in your blog once more, ... what a great topic.
Today, I watched Michael Moore lambast the Bush Administration for "lack of leadership",... bellowing on how FDR was able to wipe out Hitler and the Nazis in less time that it has taken the US Army to liberate the road from Bahgdad to the Airport (and I paraphrased). The one little detail Mr. Moore failed to realize is that 1)FDR suspended the Constitution while at war, and 2) He basically carpet-bombed Berlin to the stone age in order to bring the Nazi war machine to its knees, civilians and all. There was no CNN or MSNBC covering every instance of human casualty, there weren't 12,000 bloggers giving a minute by minute detail of "collateral damage"...
Your topic, as it relates to how the parameters of the Geneva Convention does not involve the Combatants we are battling, brings my point to a better light. How I wish Mr. Moore could read your well-documented synopsis.
As always, it is a singular moment of clarity to read your work. Fabulous my friend!
THANK YOU!
Now if only I could get all Americans {plus many in other lands} to read this entry, and comments... If only!
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