There are a lot of retired generals in the U.S. just now -- Mr Rumsfeld may have the Guinness record for cashiering them -- and a lot of second-guessing about Iraq. The most serious criticism has come from former Maj. Gen. John Batiste, who commanded the 1st Infantry Division in north-west Iraq two years ago. He told the same TV network [CNN] the U.S. is in a fix in Iraq, "because Secretary Donald Rumsfeld ignored sound military advice, dismissed it all, went with his plan and his plan alone."

For a man who was in the field, and not in the Pentagon, this is an extravagant criticism. For those with some knowledge of Mr Rumsfeld's working habits, it also comes as a surprise. He has a reputation for encouraging reasoned debate among his subordinates (as does his boss, George Bush). He suffers neither yes-men nor fools. But having made decisions, he sticks to them. He is, in short, the polar opposite of so many Clinton appointees. And they were getting in his way.

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There is an internal enemy, centered in the Sunni Triangle, but it, too, depends on foreign money and materiel. The further menace of a Shia underground, making reprisals against the Sunnis but also undermining the legitimate Iraqi government, has been added over time. Syria and Iran meddle on their own accounts, and act as conduits for the international jihadi networks. If we can't take the war to them, we can't win it.

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We did not defeat Nazi Germany by trying to win the cooperation of local officials, or giving warnings to civilians that alert the enemy among them to flee or hide. We kept pounding till we saw the white flags, then interred whom we pleased.

An excellent article. You should read it all.