[Azred]

Originally posted by Animal: Again, I wonder how you would feel if you were on the other end of the stick? Would you be so aloof? Would you find it "cold and harsh, but life nonetheless" if your family was being gunned down because they were suspect of terrorism? So exactly who is responsible for the misinformation that cost thousands of lives? Shouldn't the Man in charge be held accountable for his actions? Yes...HIS actions. Whether or not he was provided with misinformation, he still has a responsibility to insure he is taking the correct course of action, does he not?

Yes. Reality is cold; if my family members suffer because of someone else's actions I would realize that even though I might be in the process of seeking revenge. My emotional state does not change reality, only how I choose to react to it.

I doubt anyone can be certain who might be the one person responsible, but the person "in charge" is ultimately responsible. Truman had the phrase "the buck stops here" on his desk to remind himself of this.
However, if the person in charge has put people with the appropriate training and capabilities to funnel information to him, then the person in charge is going to figure that information is correct, unless other information that contradicts it arises.

It is a shame that deaths are still occuring in Iraq. However, if all the insurgents would quit derailing the rebuilding of their own country then the death toll would fall dramatically. Lay the blame at their doorstep, not anyone else's.