News Analysis: As Casualties in Iraq Mount, Will Resolve Falter?: "administration officials and military commanders have also been dismissive of the insurgency in a way that may now be questioned. On Saturday, Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, the top American commander in Iraq, said the attacks were 'strategically and operationally insignificant.'
... However, Kenneth Allard, a former Army colonel who teaches international security at Georgetown University, suggested that the Iraqi attacks would test American determination.
"Every single one of these attacks challenges American will, and American will is the center of gravity in this campaign," he said.
... Similarly, he said, Mr. Bush and his team have yet to convince the Iraqi people that the United States will prevail. "If you're an Iraqi, the biggest fear in your mind is that Saddam or his cohorts might be back," Mr. Allard said. "Everything they see now could convince them that the Americans may be faint-hearted. So at the least, they hedge their bets.""
- posted by geoff @ #