The BBC has declared victory and it’s good enough for me. I will admit I was a little nervous in the second week but it does appear that after all, as I predicted, when challenged the Iraqi army decided there was not much percentage in fighting to the death. Baghdad was no Stalingrad after all despite some dire warnings. And the Iraqis estimate 1,250 or so killed and 5,100 wounded civilians (alongside less than 100 US and 30 British troop casualties – see The Guardian’s casualty summary). All deaths in war are unwelcome but this seems a fairly modest death toll.
Whew! Now we have to try to win the peace…
[Later] This – US-backed militia appearing to be goons is the kind of thing we have to make sure doesn’t happen!
