In a war where one is not going to control territory and the population one must win over the "hearts and minds" of the population. The old saying "if you have 'em by the balls their hearts and minds will follow" is true, and that's a big "if". The Bush Administration decided to do this war on the cheap, believing their own propaganda, shutting themselves off from information they didn't want to hear, with the predicted consequence that they do not have 'em by the balls.

OK. Now. How else does one win "hearts and minds". One does that by being perceived as respecting the population, as aiding the population, as being a net plus to their country. "Hearts and minds" are delicate flowers, need a lot of care and nurturing.

What kills, or changes, "hearts and minds" is neglect, hostility, disregard and destruction. It does not take much injustice, disrespect, torture, it doesn't take many killings of innocents to turn hearts and minds against whoever is doing that. Imagine how you'd feel if someone shot and killed your wife and daughter while protecting an Iraqi ambassador driving down your street.

The US has lost the hearts and minds in that area forever by acts such as I cited. They will not come back. You will excuse, forgive and forget these slaughters, those people won't. Ever. And their extended families will remember, their neighbors will remember, and that infection will and has spread.

Incidents such as this are a disaster beyond the local consequences. They tell the Iraqis in no uncertain terms how Americans feel about Iraq and Iraqis. That Americans do not care one whit for them. After something like this a Marine giving a kid a candy bar seems barbaric.

Now, it's incomprehensible that posts such as mine indicate the US is "winning" the situation. I'm afraid to imagine what sort of mindset and worldview it takes to conjure that up. I'm completely serious about that.

Arf