You guys have to remember, and fully understand that the gravity of this isnt just the kids parents, but the mindset of 90% (just a guess) of the population....whether that mindset is one set on toppling an evil regime, or the mindset is of pure of evil in itself. As I said, children have been used as weapons all throughout history. Not saying it is right, just stating a fact.
Sickening yes, but alas, human nature. We are savages at heart. I gaurantee you Tommy, we put you in a situation from birth, where you are under despotic rule, zero freedoms, etc etc, and you my freind will either be a zombie committing attrocities for the state, or a zombie committing attrocities against the state, or, being human, a zombie committing attrocities for one beleif system or another.
Its not about being right or wrong. The points that you have made are honorable, and full of good intentions. But you are dealing with people. At our hearts we are all greedy, we are all lustful, we are all power hungry. This is why, since the dawn of mankind, we have fought and killed each other endlessly. It wont change because you want it to. We can however do our best to stamp out mindsets of evil and oppression, which is what NATO, the UN and specifically the US (granted, all these organizations and countries have alterier motives, ref. GREED) are about. Like it or not man, without the US and her allies, this world would be a MUCH worse place.