Matt Drudge, for all his resources and visibility, apparently can't do better than a gaggle of negative or alarmist reports and an alliterative headline. He didn't even catch this Christian Science Monitor deconstruction of Moqtada al-Sadr. So it's best to find your news and analysis on Iraq's current situation elsewhere. Blackfive found a letter from Engineer Corps GI Joe Roche, who begs to differ with morose characterizations of Baghdad's situation. (Original link from Amy Ridenour.) IP links to the magnificent Amir Taheri working overtime to prevent our overreaction to the deadly work of shunned extremists. And Wretchard, usually ascetic when I've read him, regards the cultural monolith we face in the Near East with some poetry and prose. And if you want all of the news, head to the Winds of Change war update.

ALSO: Ralph Peters isn't happy, but he isn't gawking, either. (Link via IP.)

I DON'T THINK RALPH WILL LIKE THIS: According to the New York Times, the Allies want al-Sadr's end to be part self-destruction, part native justice. When I first read this article I interpreted the deference as another sign of irresolution (which the Wall Street Journal critiqued quite smartly today). But considering that al-Sadr is marginalized, supported by about 1% of Shiites, the Bush administration may be working from knowledge we haven't got.

One final thought: it may indeed turn out that the next few days see the insurgent forces in Iraq decisively smashed, having carelessly put themselves on the Allies' military terms. Waiting out the terrorists in Iraq may have been inevitable. So to paraphrase Steven Den Beste, passion may yet be our worst enemy, subtlety our ace.

MORE: Moqtada may receive Iraqi justice but his followers, apparently, will be served American-style; and quickly.