Elan and Fear

Posted 03:56 GMT
Mangala spoke:

Armies act and take their motive from elan and fear. The Coalition has known elan in its lightning thrust up the two rivers. The Republic has known fear as the invader sliced into its national body.

Now, at Baghdad's gate, each army learns its true worth.

For the Iraqis, all ambiguity has been removed: They known where the Coalition stands, they know the Coalition's goal, they know its power, and they need only to decide whether to sell their country cheap or dear.

For the Coalition, ambiguity abounds. For the mighty Republican Guards melted away, and where they stand and what their intention might be, the Coalition does not know.

Elan grows from the extremes of success and of failure, for in the end, when all is hopeless, an army discovers the inner sources of elan, discovers a willingness to fight to utter destruction.

Fear grows from the too little knowledge of the enemy's place and intentions.

Elan says, "We are at the gates of Baghdad. Victory is at hand."

Fear says, "It has been too easy. Where is the trap?"