The timeline of the operation can be found in this press interview. Graphics can be found in the links.

We sent soldiers up the stairs to capture these people, and they were met with automatic weapons fire. We hauled away four wounded soldiers, and changed tactics. Considering the howls we get on this board every time an American is killed over there, you would think the commanders would get some credit for this.

A second attempt to enter the house was also repulsed. The second floor of the house was fortified and reinforced. Did you know that? Did you know if there were escape tunnels or not? Neither did the forces surrounding them.

Gas? You watch too many movies. Someone holed up in a fortified room with AK-47s is probably prepped for tear gas, and knockout gas only works on TV. Ask the Russians.

Face it, a lot of people on the Left are furious that we found and nailed these guys, and are just trying to discredit it in any way they can. "Where are Saddam and his sons?" was a favorite jeer, and now it's lost a bit of its steam. When we get Saddam they're going to be apoplectic.

Even the more reasonable liberals are still saying things along the lines of "I'm sure glad they're gone, BUT..."

Had we sat around and laid seige to the house, and Saddam's two sons had slipped away, the contempt and jeering at our armed forces, from all the very same people bitching about us killing them, would have been deafening.

I don't know if displaying the bodies was the right thing to do, or if it was done the right way. I do know that some form of solid evidence was needed.

BTW, I have seen enough sources to convince me that Salam Pax is genuine. I've been following this site for some time, and sites linked to it that have checked the sources, addresses, and the like.

Pax also writes columns for the Guardian, which you can take as you like as evidence of his reality. ;)