Funny thing is, I didn't start this thread for a debate about the rights or wrongs of the inevitable assault on Falluja. To a large degree, your opinions as to "freedom fighter" or "terrorist" are entirely irrelevant (we none of us make the decisions after all).

What bothered me, in the original BBC article that inspired this post, was the attitude of the battalion commander at the sharp end. This is a man who, in civilian terms, is a very senior middle manager. He's in command of the best part of a thousand men. He can call on virtually unlimited & unquestioning support from artillery, airforce, & bloody (literally) anything he wants. He's going to be responsible for killing people in the dozens & multiples thereof.

But he says "...the enemy has got a face. He's called Satan. He lives in Falluja. And we're going to destroy him."

I know Dubya is somewhere to the right of God. I'm not asking whether you think the presence of US troops is right or wrong. I'm just astonished that someone with this kind of mindset can be promoted to such a powerful position within the US military. Compare & contrast with Lt-Col Tim Collins' much quoted speech in the build up to GWII.

Why is that the US is so slow to learn the lessons of other conflicts? Korea, Vietnam (Full MEtal Jacket, anyone?), Northern Ireland, & so on?

I'd like to see the West win this peace (the war was, IMHO, necessary, overdue, & a foregone conclusion). But if the US politico-military high command continues on the way it is...