I don’t think anything in war is ever 100% sure. But familiarity with terrain and conditions does go a long way.

I also wonder about the US troops’ morale and conviction in that fight. I’d be wary of making any definitive statements here either way. I know we like to paint the US as fundamentally morally corrupt, but I’m not sure how far following orders and justifying them to themselves will actually go. It’s far easier to tell yourself you’re doing the right thing when abducting a corrupt dictator than when seizing previously allied territory.

I hope we never have to find out.