The British have launched a major assault into Basra, the aim being to capture the city.

It does seem very likely that Chemical Ali is dead, after the artillery barrage against his compound the other day.

Meanwhile, US troops are massing near Baghdad, but they've only gone and bombed one of their own convoys in northern Iraq. There were special forces guys and Kurdish fighters in it. And John Simpson. He's reported at least ten dead, but we've no idea how many of them are Americans and how many are Kurds.

The deaths of half a dozen or so special forces guys, right in front of the international media, might persuade the Pentagon that its pilots are halfwits and that they need a lot more disciplining before they're allowed into the air with several million dollars of plane and several tons of high explosive.

Smart bombs, dumb pilots.