As I’ve mused on the issue further, I can forsee one other, very large advantage to a surgical strike.
By not being forced to destroy Iraqi infrastructure, we will reduce the need for U.N. “asistance” in rebuilding Iraq. “No thanks, Jaques, mes “amis”. We’ve got this one covered. We’ll take it from here.” We might also avoid the creation of a large refugee problem, which reduces Turkey and Jordan’s ability to demand concessions from us and a post-Saddam Iraqi gov’t.