To the Point

Dreams of Quick and Easy War Fade

From President Bush to commanders in the field, US officials are upbeat after six days of combat. Yet, reports of military setbacks, casualties and prisoners of war have replaced the rosy predictions that toppling Saddam Hussein would be quick and easy. As the realities of war sink in on the American public, in Baghdad today, two rockets fell on a residential neighborhood, killing15 people. We get an update from Baghdad, reaction from Amb. Peter Galbraith who discovered evidence of genocide against the Kurds in the 1980-s, hear about the potential role for the United Nations, and what Prime Minister Blair wants to talk about with President Bush at Camp David. Making News: What the Polls Say about Support for War MacDill Air Force Base is the permanent home of General Tommy Franks- Central Command. Despite reports that the war is not going as well as expected, President Bush found a very supportive audience there. As the reality of war strikes home, what-s the reaction of the larger American public? John Zogby of Zogby International, a worldwide market research firm, correlates the public-s level of interest with its support for the war. Reporter's Notebook: Basra Uprising Though advancing American columns bypassed Basra on their way to Baghdad, allied forces are now fighting there after all. US officials have predicted that Shiite Muslims there would rise up against Saddam Hussein and welcome allied troops with open arms. George Packer, contributor to the New York Times magazine, looks to 1991 to predict what a potential uprising might mean for post-war Iraq.