The nature of modern conflict

In these modern times all out war is about as effective as removing a brain tumour by decapitation. What we need is the military equivalent of a razor sharp scalpel. It is self evident that diplomacy does not work when dealing with madmen, yet war should not be an option. Assassination perhaps? That would be the way to deal with Mugabe. But what do you do when a whole section of a populous is stark raving bonkers? Like the Taliban in Afghanistan, or the genocidal maniacs in Rwanda? War needs to become more intelligent, more selective, which certainly rules out any further manufacture of bombs.