We invaded France to remove a tyranny and win a war. It involved a lot of harm to a lot of innocent French citizens, since it was not possible to fight a war and kill only Germans. Yet this is what had to be done. The parallel is not exact, but the point is clear. Iraq is fortunate that we are no longer using WWII techniques.

A considerable number of the people shooting at us from Fallujah are either not from Iraq, or are representatives of the previous regime. We are not fighting a "popular uprising," although there are people who will do their damnedest to convince you that it is one. We are trying to peel loose an insurgency that has the sole goal of placing Iraq under another tyranny. It is largely supported from Syria and Iran. Syria wants the Baathists back in. Iran wants a Shiite theocracy. Sadr just wants to be Ayatollah.

You have to get this clear in your head. We are not fighting the "average Iraqi."

If we withdraw, and abandon Iraq yet again, resulting in another half million in mass graves, will the Left develop another case of convenient amnesia and blame Bush for "letting Iraq down?"

We are not hearing from the Iraqis that support us because they are too damn frightened to do so openly, and because when they do, the news does not get past American editors. Keep in mind that out of 25 million Iraqis, only a few thousand are shooting at us. Out of hundreds of Iraqi towns and cities, there are about a dozen at most that are chronic trouble spots. In some places, like Kurdistan, Americans walk in complete safety. This is not insignificant.

Frankly, I'm concerned that a general from Saddam's army may not comfort the average Iraqi citizen much more than the Marines. I hope they know what they're doing.