Both sides have an interest in propaganda as both a tactical and a public relations tool and will naturally put a positive spin on developments. I've noticed Tommy Franks making oddly frequent references to terrorism - I get the queasy feeling that the administration has requested that he reinforce a link to 9/11 in the public's mind. But as much as I distrust the U.S. government, I would still trust it a lot farther than I would the Iraqi government. You just have to keep everything in perspective.

When you add the fog of war to the official spin, and then add an overly eager press to the equation, you've got the makings of a lot of dubious stories and speculation. Everybody needs to take a deep breath.