General's Desk: Bring It On

The surprise movement of Iraqi troops from Baghdad toward a force of U.S. Marines south of the Iraq capital may well help the U.S., said retired Air Force Gen. Joe Ralston, a CBS News military analyst.

"Moving troops out into the open presents opportunity for significant damage by air attacks," Ralston told CBSNews.com.

While there is no way of knowing what the "ground truth" is, the movement of Iraqi troops away from Baghdad is "something we should hope for," he said.

Ralston said that while another explanation for Iraqis heading south could just be the movement of civilians fleeing the city, it is most likely a "misguided attempt at an offensive."

Ralston also said he doesn't believe unexpected Iraqi resistance has forced the U.S. to alter its war plan or timetable.

"If anything, Gen. (Tommy) Franks is ahead of his plan," said Ralston.

News reports have also indicated that tougher-than-expected Iraqi resistance has forced to U.S. to shift its attention from Baghdad to southern Iraq.

But Ralston said: "In the big picture, Basra and an-Nasariyah are insignificant. They are not the prize."

In fact, Ralston said, U.S. forces can bypass these cities and deal with them after they have achieved their main goal: the capture of Baghdad.