You're a rather vague, opaque kinda guy. "Chipping away?" This sounds more like a strategy that Mary Poppins might employ to get Bert over for afternoon tea. And then once you urge us to start this "chipping away" process you seem to give up the ghost by declaring, with confidence lacking, that "unfortunately these people have many ways to defend their positions." No flanking maneuvers in your strategic handbag? I daresay, you're going to have a hard go of it enlisting others to bivouac with you with that sort of strategic hesitancy. I mean, I'm not suggesting a full-on banzai charge here, but if these people indeed "have many ways to defend their positions" as you say, something more than a few ice hammers will have to be put to use if victory is to be achieved and a short walk to the gallows forestalled. I mean, really...