Ecumenical goodwill from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Richard Myer:

Coalition forces must still capture or kill the terrorists still operating in Iraq and prevent them from gaining access to weapons of mass destruction, Myers said.

The coalition also must begin the process of working with Iraqis to establish an interim authority and pave the way for a new Iraqi government.

Myers said he hopes Muslims around the world understand what this coalition effort means. "I think the thing that the folks ought to notice out in the region, that it was the United States and our coalition partners who wanted to put our blood and treasure on the line for a couple of large Muslim populations: one in Afghanistan, and now in Iraq," he said.

(today's Dept. of Defense news)

And now, a moment of Ari zen:

Q I'm not asking you what time, and I'm not asking you when, and I'm not saying that the war is over. I'm not looking for a reaction to his events today. You already said that very articulately. What I want to know is, what specifically -- what other goals will have to be accomplished before he would declare that the war is over?

MR. FLEISCHER: You know, I think it goes back to what I said at the very beginning, Ron. The President has said that this is a military mission, that the military remains in harm's way, and until the military mission is accomplished, I don't think the President is going to be at that point in his own mind.

Q What is the military mission that has to be accomplished?

MR. FLEISCHER: There still is fighting that could lay ahead.
...
Q Do you not declare victory until he's captured or killed?

MR. FLEISCHER: The President will declare victory when the President thinks it's appropriate time.

(yesterday's White House press briefing with Ari Fleischer)