You may be wondering why I would ask the the opinion of a dead civil war general on a modern conflict. So heres my reason, Sherman was one of the key generals how ended one of the greatest rebellions in the world and some what of a philasopher in war. Of course there are diffrences between Iraq and the civil war but there is one thing that makes them the same. in both conflicts the U.S fought against men and women willing to fight to the death for a cause they belive in. Sherman relized this so he decided that the only way to make this end is to make total war on people and cause the enemy to no longer fight. We cant ask him what he would do since he is dead but we do have many of his sayings. Here is some of them, I leave them open for your interpatation.

Quotes form sherman

Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster.

I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are.

I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices to-day than any of you to secure peace.

 I make up my opinions from facts and reasoning, and not to suit any body but myself. If people don't like my opinions, it makes little difference as I don't solicit their opinions or votes. 

 I would make this war as severe as possible, and show no symptoms of tiring till the South begs for mercy.

If I had my choice I would kill every reporter in the world, but I am sure we would be getting reports from Hell before breakfast.

If the people raise a great howl against my barbarity and cruelty, I will answer that war is war, and not popularity seeking.

My aim then was to whip the rebels, to humble their pride, to follow them to their inmost recesses, and make them fear and dread us.

This war differs from other wars, in this particular. We are not fighting armies but a hostile people, and must make old and young, rich and poor, feel the hard hand of war.

War is the remedy that our enemies have chosen, and I say let us give them all they want.

War is cruelty. There's no use trying to reform it, the crueler it is the sooner it will be over.