Inasmuch as the writer doesn't go too far off the reservation (by plugging in the "Salvador=RtWing Death Squad" association-as-meme that the left is fond of commencing their rants about...) he does paint a fairly accurate picture of the difficulties in Iraq. Too often, the left exhibits a complete lack of understanding about the world as it really works - I guess the constant weaning on the teat of utopian solutions (that universally and conveniently disregard the unintended consequences of their ideas...) has bred out anything that promotes real thinking on their part.
The writer could have explored the "dirty war" theme in more detail, like further explaining why it is a dirty war. First, life has been very cheap in Iraq for over a generation; most of the population there have no friggin' idea that a place where life is respected can even exist. Second, it follows that a transition from worthless human value (that can be fed into plastic shredders) to a pluralistic society based on rule of law, respect for life and property will not take place overnight, 12 months or 5 years. Libs most vocal arguments against our efforts focus on this disparity and scream failure-in-the-NOW because the changes haven't taken effect yet.
The third point - the transition - is writing truthfully about the brutal reality that is dealing with murderous vermin from the previous regime/worldview, and how it is necessary to be capable of brutality towards those enemies. The writer, at least in the above piece, doesn't automatically equate the commandos with the SS. In fact, just reading material from a leftist organ which doesn't slip into rote response on something like this - an omission of accusation-as-the-normal charge, if you will - is in itself a glaring change from the norm for that paper.
Good points, well said.