This is why countless civilizations have fallen to the barbarian hordes throughout history. They become soft and fool themselves into believing that they can defend themselves by fighting fairly. They think that all because they have "morality" on their side, that they are destined to win against the heathen. This is self delusion at it's finest. How can you successfully defend yourself against someone willing to use any means at their disposal to bring you down, while at the same time tying your own hands behind your back?

Japan thought that we were weak and would be easy prey, instead they found out the hard way that we were every bit a ruthless as they were. We blockaded their ports, bombed their population centers into dust, and eventually drove the Empire of the Sun into the ground. We didn't let up until we had utterly defeated them and forced them to beg for a ceasefire. Then for good measure, we showed the world our true potential with two mighty blows that made the rest of the nations fear and respect us for several decades to follow. This is how war has to fought, anything less is a total waste of time. Without total defeat, your setting the stage for your children or grandchildren to have to go through the hell of war again and again. It's better to end it once and for all.

The only thing that should separate the civilized from the uncivilized isn't how we fight our wars, but why we fight our wars. Civilized peoples shouldn't start wars of conquest, but if attacked, then they have the right to bring utter hell down upon their attackers. If we were to dish out the same medicine upon those that would do us harm, then they would thing two or three times before starting down that path.