Umm Qasr seems to be under control.. which means the supplies of food.. clothing.. medical supplies for the Iraqi people themselves can begin to dock as soon as the Ba'ath mines are cleared..
Basrah.. has again responded to the opportunity to rid themselves of Saddam's control.. and this is what the Coalition forces were hoping to see.. In fact the cooperation of the Iraqi's is imperative in the American plans.. Not only does it allow Coalition soldiers to avoid a Belfast street-to-street situation, but it lends creedence to the entire effort..
This will really be a war of liberation.. if the Iraqi people stand up in support of it.. It appears they might indeed..
In the meantime.. Baghdad's suffering under a sandstorm.. winds high enough to bend palm trees.. it would be hard to think of conditions that are harder on machinery..
Yet the strategic bombing runs will continue..
One can only thank whatever gods there might be.. that one doesn't live near Fairford in Glocestershire.. the B52's.. and they're big birds.. have been flying rotating missions non-stop for a few days now..
Makes all of us reflexively look up at our own roof-tiles..