text: to what extent is the current u.s. war plan for iraq targeting essential civilian infrastructure? the stated aims of  the shock and awe experiment, namely its emphasis on unprecedented levels of destruction and overwhelming devastation for the purpose of psychological effect:  so as to achieve a level of national shock akin to the effect that dropping nuclear weapons on hiroshima and nagasaki had on the japanese; to summarize, the text of shock and awe presents numerous passages explicitly stating and emphasizing the importance of destroying water supplies, food production, electricity-generating capabilities, and transportation.  also affected would be any facilities or services requiring electricity, for example, sanitation, sewage, water treatment plants, hospitals, and emergency services - the specific known effects (progression of sickness and disease) immediately following u.s. and coalition bombing of iraqs water and power infrastructure during the first gulf war; ok, this question is so short-sighted it drives me to near insanity.  i was in the first iraq war in the northern part of the country. my brother has done two tours in the second conflict that is occuring now.  the fact that the initial invasion of iraq was termed "shock and awe" in no way reflects the theory of war you just presented.  one of the reasons both wars were so damned expensive was due to our determination not to hit civilian targets.  overall, it would be much easier to carpet bomb a country into capitulation than to send in an invasion force.  just as wwii germans.  dresden was firebombed to the ground.  we have not done even a slight portion of the damage done in previous wars.  when we target power installations in the first war, it was specifically to deny the iraqi millitary electricity.  we don't bomb hospitals, sewage treatment centers, public water works, schools or other civilian infrastructure.  war is hell.  at least when we americans commit to a war we don't rape, murder or pillage like u.n. troops.