They weren't targets as of yet beacuse the US has been targeting the infrustructure they use to communicate (radio towers, switching stations, uplinks etc.)... that's easier to attack, then individual people (who can hide)... and much more ethical.

Armed or unarmed isn't the point. We could wipe out the country... yes we have the firepower to get rid of them day one... but didn't want to... we had other means.

Now Saddam is on the run, or dead (I honestly don't know what to believe)....

His leadership is all over.

The last thing blocking us fromt he citizens of Baghdad is the media. Just like during 9/11, America sat infront of TV's... Iraqi's are sitting in front of Radio's... trying to find out what's going on .

Now if they are being told by Iraq funded media that "the Americans here to kill your babies"... guess what that does? (granted it would be something less dramatic, but it's just to make the point).

Now if their radio is out... the only radio station is coalliton controlled. SO we can inform and warn civilians to stay indoors, that we will arrest looters, etc.

It's basically a ratings are gone crazy. We are ensuring that we are their media now.

Iraq needs to forget about what was past, and focus on the future.