BAGHDAD: Apparently, not much like Stalingrad after all.

This is supposed to be the fearless Republican Guard, but under fire there is no bravery and little dignity as many of them abandon their posts, some struggling to strip to their underwear as they flee.

Desperate to get away, when they are confronted by a security fence that extends into the river they jump in, swimming 50 metres out from the bank before returning along the opposite side of the fence to pick up the access road again. . . .

But those who are pinned down on the spit have no chance. They come under heavy bombardment from the Bradley vehicles. After an hour, US infantrymen emerge from the vehicles, crouch in their shadows and pick off the remaining guards, one by one.

That was always a silly analogy for the purposes it was offered for, since it put Saddam in the role of Von Paulus. But this shows that it was sillier still, doesn’t it?