Frontline Thoughts

The guy in charge of getting U.S. troops to Baghdad says things are tougher than expected. Not a queasy "armchair general" or "defeatist" or "peacenik," the commander of ground troops in the theater.

Lt. Gen. William Wallace tells The Washington Post that Iraqi tactics have slowed the advance and that, together with thin supply lines, likely means that fighting will last longer than expected. Let's see how long it takes for the Bush administration to call Wallace crazy.

One more extraneous thing. Contrary to news reports, official statements, and editorial assertions, U.S. forces are not on the outskirts of Baghdad. They are a good 50 miles from the city. Those miles could go fast, could go slow, but 50 miles is still 50 miles.