@basedbagel - I don't see total war as a good thing, under any circumstances. But I see the logic behind it... and when it's carried out completely, to the bitter end, I think it's effective.
It's like the Romans would say: You haven't won until your enemy considers himself to be defeated.
I doubt that Islamic civilians would ever get on board with the globo-homo, no matter how lightly the war was fought.
The problem with total war is: What is the cause that's being fought for?