John Burns: “We are implementing a strategy to embolden a government that is actually part of the problem... We are being played like…”

The Maliki government -- and in a sense, who can blame them -- has been preparing for some time for an eventual American military withdrawal and an all- out civil war.

I think it's symbolically essential and in fact, practically essential as well. And this rebellion has been about one thing, and that is getting rid of Moammar Gadhafi.

He has said repeatedly that it is the duty of the people, something Hitler also said, in effect to die for him.

There's no doubt that the resignation of the Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld has had a liberating effect. There's no doubt there is now a freer air about this.