SKBUBBA WRITES:

I think the fact that Baghdad is still largely intact (among other things) is evidence they may have actually gotten Saddam. It sounds like they may be exploiting the breakdown of command and working other channels to arrange some sort of surrender, thus avoiding massive destruction of Iraqi infrastructure (not to mention civilians). Andrew apparently agrees. This would be a good thing, at least in terms of reconstruction and “democratization” efforts, and for humanitarian considerations. This would also reduce the likelihood of massive refuge problems in neighboring countries.

So far it seems like the war is being prosecuted with remarkable restraint and a subtlety that was not evident in the pre-war rhetoric and blustering. On the other hand, today is another day and more surprises could be in store. If so, I’d look for fireworks around 3:00 to 4:00 AM Baghdad time, which would not only provide cover of darkness but would also coincide nicely with network prime time in the U.S. and present the opportunity for dramatic accounts of “daring pre-dawn” raids, which I know Wolf is just dying to say on the air.

And I know the world is breathlessly awaiting analysis and commentary by some anonymous Bubba, so there you go.

Of course we are. At least, I was! Meanwhile, both this Andrew and this one do seem to agree that we may have gotten Saddam after all. This article from the Washington Post (which has the New York Times beat hollow on war reportage) says that intelligence officials think Saddam was in the bunker, but don’t know if he survived. We’ll see. Interestingly, it’s probably not in anyone’s interest, on any side, to go public with definitive news of Saddam’s life or death just yet, even if they know for certain.

And most of the pre-war bluster about massive casualties and destruction came from peace activists and gullible journalists, I think. Of course, that only made it more credible to some. . . . Hmm. Maybe they’re not just Karl Rove’s useful idiots — maybe they’re Donald Rumsfeld’s useful idiots, too. But hey, at least they’re making themselves useful for a change!