Caridnal mistake in western military strategy

Sun Tzu said in his Art of War:

Quote

When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate
foe too hard.

Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they
will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing
they may not achieve.

Officers and men alike will put forth their uttermost strength.

Soldiers when in desperate straits lose the sense of fear. If there
is no place of refuge, they will stand firm. If they are in hostile
country, they will show a stubborn front. If there is no help for it,
they will fight hard.

Thus, without waiting to be marshaled, the soldiers will be constantly
on the qui vive; without waiting to be asked, they will do your will;
without restrictions, they will be faithful; without giving orders,
they can be trusted.

Unquote

These are 2000+ years old sayings and any person interested in warfare
should know this.

A cardinal mistake was to insist on "Regime Change," which is likely to
result in massive coalition causalities because all those connected to
the "Regime" will fight to the last, as Sun Tzu said.

A simpler target for the coalition would have been only Saddam.