We are closing in on Baghdad and I've yet to hear of large numbers of civilian casualties. The reporters in the field are doing an examplary job of reporting straight news of the fighting. Reading or listening to the editorial writers who are sitting at home commenting, make the writing they produce seem bland. Read this:

March 25 — American and British commanders shifted the focus of their air strikes early Tuesday toward Republican Guard units arrayed in defense of Baghdad as advance elements of the American invasion force moved to within 50 miles of the Iraqi capital. American attack helicopters fought a pitched battle Monday with elements of the Medina Republican Guards south of Karbala as a separate thrust by U.S. Marines positioned itself farther east. And U.S. commanders said a helicopter engagement early Monday marked the opening shots in the battle of Baghdad, a campaign that British Prime Minister Tony Blair described as “imminent.”

Just the facts, nothing more or less. This report is culled from wire services and does go off on a typical news tangent, but the first paragraph is good, absorbing prose.