Iraq

Brigadier General Mark Hertling, one of the top US commanders in charge of Najaf:

"The Moqtada militia is militarily defeated. We have killed scores of them over the last few weeks, and that is in Najaf alone."

"Over the past several days, Moqtada's militia has lost much of their stomach for fighting."



He also declared victory in Kut, Diwaniyah and Karbala:

"We have also destroyed their weapons stores and their offensive capability."

"What remains of them, which is a very small force, will take advantage of the governor's announcement to disperse if not disband."



And so on, and so forth.

Well, okay.

Whatever it takes to stop the shooting up of holy shrines.

Whatever it takes to stop the slaughter.

Whatever it takes.



You want to hear that you won?

OK: you won.

Happy? Good.

Now, bugger off, go back home.

Conquer and occupy no more.