Can you imagine how many would die if we had to civilize Sudan?

Some will defy civilization. Some see change as an opportunity to prey on others.

Russia's many republics were ruled with an iron fist by tsars for centuries. The only way peace could be maintained among people with diverse religions and races was by total fear. These folks don't fear the US because they feel we are weak. We fight to minimize death not maximize it. We care about women and children. These things make us appear weak to the barbarian mindset. As it stands Iraq will need to be maintained with an iron glove by their own police forces--much as Saddam did. Gone, however, will be the mass purgings and mass graves. Civilization comes slowly.

In some ways this is similar to the way the Holy Roman Empire was forced to bring law and moral justice to remote regions, appointing regional Consuls and Prefects.

Don's death count or yours ignores the greater good that is being done for millions of others and the annoying fact that most average Iraqis despise the insurgents and what they are doing in Iraq. This doesn't make death sweet or rosy. All it does is try to put context around the effort. We don't want to calculate alternative histories in which we calculate deaths caused by a continued Saddam government. Or the death Libya's WWD might've have caused the world in the future had they not been frightened enough by "Bush's war" to give them up.

The two of you need to watch "Mr. Destiny" with Jim Belushi and Michael Caine. That might help to put it in perspective.