“But the Geneva Conventions demand protection for civilians even if they are intermingled with military personnel, and the use of cluster bombs in these villages, even if aimed at military targets, thus crosses the boundaries of international law. “

Things we don’t here,  but have to know are happening (or do we?) When I hear people say “That’s war”,  my blood boils.  If those areas were THEIR home,  they’d have a different perspective.  It is unpatriotic to place grief for these people over some theoretical plan that supposedly justifies all this.  “Saddam is to blame for all this”,  and so we justify certain murder (or , excuse me,  “collateral damage”) of all of “his victims” by “doing the job” of dropping the bomb.  It’s his fault, you see.  Try justifying a policeman shooting and killing both the hostage and the hostage taker with several sprays of bullets,  in order to “get the job done in the most cost effective,  quickest way possible,  before the hostage taker kills others.  I don’t think that would fly as a unilateral , quick strike.  Something more surgical and something that holds the life of the innocent hostage in higher regard;  as if they were “our own family”.  Do unter others as you would have them do unto you. Is the US following this teaching?  Oh,  I forgot;  we can’t.  That’s war.