An item in Jay Nordlinger's "Impromptus":

"Dear Mr. Nordlinger: A couple of weeks ago, my son called here at home from somewhere near downtown Baghdad. It was in the middle of the night and I was a bit groggy. My boy is a 2LT and a Tank Commander in the 3-7 Cav. He told me, 'Pop, no matter what you hear or read in the media, remember this one thing: The Iraqi people are ecstatic to have us here.'

"I will tell you that these last few months have been very stressful for me. I will be glad when my boy is home."

This note was sent to me in response to my comment that, no matter what the Dowds say, the United States and its allies have done a very good thing in Iraq, and we shouldn't be talked out of a recognition of that.

Yes, I do believe that's what's going on over there. I love Drudge, but he too often becomes a highly respected, poster-bedecked telephone pole that inadvertantly mixes bad reporting with the good.