Very good post.
I have heard the "nuke-em-all" approach myself from a few rabid types, and I too am very glad we are not taking this approach.
Rebuilding a peaceful and stable Iraq will be as hard in some ways as the war was, but as you say it is a vital part of the entire effort. If we can't leave something better in our wake, what was the point?
I hope we can find and keep a balance that preserves both our soldiers and the Iraqi civilians to the best of everyone's ability. IMO we've done a pretty good job so far, despite the bad press.