Despite the early indications of success, the allied forces could still suffer greater casualties and become bogged down militarily, especially when they encounter the tough Republican Guard, which is entrenched along the Iraq-Kuwait border. If so, and if it appears that the American goal actually is to (destroy) the Iraqi regime even at the cost of badly hurting Iraqi society, " the lingering cost of that could be high, " worries former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski.  
 Verb: destroy
Yes