The Americans in the field are starting to get a sense of what they are up against. In traditional military terms, the firepower and troops amassed by the American-led coalition dwarfs that of Saddam Hussein’s military. Saddam — or whoever is leading the remnant of his Ba’athist regime at the moment — faces an uneven fight when it comes to the mechanics of war. But when it comes to the morals of war, it is America that faces an uneven fight. Saddam, after all, has total disregard for innocent human lives, for the rules of war, and for the future of his country. America, on the other hand, is eager to minimize civilian casualties and has committed to helping rebuild Iraq as a free democracy after the war.

For those fighting on our side, this can be frustrating. Our Adam Daifallah reported yesterday that the free, democratic Iraqi opposition was wondering why Iraqi state television was still broadcasting. The answer, it seemed, is that America was reluctant to target the broadcast studio and transmitter for fear of civilian casualties. Similarly, in a dispatch on page one of today’s New York Sun, the Daily Telegraph’s Oliver Poole reports that the American high command has vetoed 50% of suggested Iraqi targets for fear of hitting civilian zones. “How am I meant to protect my men when the generals are denying me the ability to bomb enemy positions?” Captain David Waldron of the Army’s 3 rd Infantry asked him. Mr. Poole’s dispatch quotes tank commander Sergeant Robert Byrd: “It’s time to stop trying to be Mr. Nice Guy. They are bombing us. Let’s start bombing the hell out of them.”

The New York Times’ Jim Dwyer, meanwhile, yesterday filed a dispatch that quoted Brigadier General Benjamin Freakly, assistant commander of the 101 st Division. Saddam “is fighting an asymmetrical warfare,” General Freakly said. He spoke of an Iraqi attack where “you have 10 guys lying on top of a building firing RPG’s and small arms.” General Freakly told Mr. Dwyer, “‘You can go in and bomb that building and reduce it to rubble,’ but at the potential cost of many civilian lives.”

At every stage, Americans are trying to walk a fine line that has been drawn from the top. “Now that the conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is to apply decisive force,” Mr. Bush told the nation as he ordered our troops into battle. “And I assure you, this will not be a campaign of half measures and we will accept no outcome but victory.” All the more dramatic is the American willingness to suffer casualties so as to spare Iraqi civilian lives. It stands in stark contrast to the behavior of Saddam and the terrorists he backs, who deliberately target Israeli and American civilians. It’s just one more reminder of which is the right side in this war.