Wretchard on Fallujah, updated

I maintain that we are at war, one war. Osama seems to have the same opinion, as Hitchens noticed “the open—and repeated—endorsement of collusion with Saddamists”. Wretchard of Belmont Club examines the war,

There can be no joy in war: it is always repulsive in actual detail, but if we are not left with the facts, then the world is deprived even of the doleful experience of the battlefield. The jihadi dream was a fraud. September 11 opened the door, not to Paradise but the portal to Hell and the jihadi nightmare will continue for as long as they are nourished on illusion and false encouragement. We are not their permanent enemies; that foe is within their breast.

This is the challenge of our times.

Terrorist violence is related to a nation’s level of political freedom: terrorism declined among nations with high levels of political freedom.

Update On the specific subject of speculating on what’s happening during battle, Kathleen is absolutely right: “Let the soldiers do their job, then when it’s all said and done with, you can throw your rampant speculation out there.”