One thing Steve that I will call you on:

"I don't buy into a categorization at any level that the military operates any mission with a wanton disregard for life."

While I think that's overwhelmingly true, it doesn't necessarily apply when attacking one's enemies. There are also foolish Generals whose pride or stupidity cause massive death. The battle at Gallipoli comes to mind, Napolean's march to Moscow, and the tactics of the Japanese in WWII.

My dad fought in Eisenhower's signal command in WWII. He didn't like to talk about war, but said that if even one shot came from a building as they advanced, the building was toast. Didn't matter who was inside it. It seems like it's a lot easier to pick and choose when you know that the people you are liberating view you as liberators. That was a problem in Viet Nam and has been throughout the Middle East- the "enemy" mixes in with civilians in a most cowardly way, although I bet many of them see no difference between themselves and those civilians.