Operation Sidewinder. It's hard to be patient with this slow leak, after such a whirlwind of a military victory, but we can't say we weren't told this would be long and difficult. The biggest task is to develop local sources of intelligence we can trust and who won't be capped by the Baath remnants. That takes time, because Iraqis still don't know whether we really mean them well or not. As time goes by, I think we'll succeed in building support, but I hate these stories of young soldiers being murdered in sneak attacks and ambushes.

We have to build a sense among these people that they are entitled to a government that serves them, and a willingness to sacrifice themselves to establish and defend it. One point we should concentrate on is that such a government and the rights it ensures must come before religion, because religious leaders have proven too willing everywhere to abuse power once they have access to it. The idea of a government which serves the people is fundamentally inconsistent with the nature of religion, which is expected to constantly point and prod people to match its ideals. Political power is a dangerous to give or to hold. Americans learn this principle in grade school, but it can't be taken for granted.