The "human shield" technique for combat prevention probably worked a little better in the age of literal shields: physically blocking the attack of a countryman against an opponent would probably work pretty well, but I think Pocahontas was about the last person to successfully use the technique. Missiles and bombs and whatnot don't have eyes or a conscience - being there will stop nothing. It is the most pointless of suicide missions.

That's not stopping a group of Western human shields from marching to Baghdad:

A group of around 50 Western anti-war activists received visas Tuesday to enter Iraq where they plan to form "human shields" in an effort to deter a possible U.S.-led attack on the Arab state.

The volunteers said at an impromptu news conference in the Turkish capital they hoped their presence and the possibility of Western casualties would encourage U.S. political leaders and military planners to re-think any plans to bomb Baghdad for its alleged development of weapons of mass destruction.

"I am an American human shield on this trip to Baghdad to try and stop this war," said volunteer John Rosse.

"I ask American troops headed here...not to come, they have no business being here. They do not make good ambassadors. They are here to kill, murder, devastate the civilian population of Iraq. That is not an American thing to do."

The group is traveling across Turkey in a convoy, including a red double-decker bus, that is expected to cross into Syria on Wednesday before entering Iraq. The volunteers left London late last month and headed overland across Europe. [Reuters]