Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the new war received little attention, although it was reported in the opening hours. The US military seems to have taken over the main Iraqi state radio frequency as the first strikes happened. “This is the day we have been waiting for,” an announcer said in Arabic.

The 21st-century US military clearly has a sophisticated ability to manipulate the media. This is information warfare and “reflexive control” — influencing the enemy’s thoughts to make him do what you want.