The current "drone war" is the war that Team Bush should have waged. Lets review.
Cost: drones vs invasion and occupation. Slam dunk.
American deaths: numbers killed and injured. Slam dunk.
Iraqi civilian deaths: numbers killed and injured. Slam dunk.
Lets also remember what we aren't experiencing today. American pilots held captive and tortured. Soldiers bodies being dragged on the shit roads of Afghanistan.
Blow-back: Yes, there may be some blow-back. But much less than would occur by an invasion/occupation. And we aren't targeting Clark Griswold for Fuck's sake.
I wish we had used drones or smart missiles against Saddam. If you don't want to use drones, what's your solution? Do nothing?