>Decide first on requirements then the minimal language elements
>that meets the requirements.

Well... (It's just my sarcastic opinion, don't be hurt)
The requirement is - to gain as full execution control as possible.
(We are programmers more or less, aren't we?)
The minimal language element is... "goto"! That's why "goto" is
included in all assemblers, but not all of them have loops.

Now you may throw stones at me...

SY, Dmitri.