Britons also feel undervalued by America: pre-war comments by Donald Rumsfeld, America's blunt defence secretary, that America could make do in Iraq even if Britain chose to hold back its troops, caused widespread dismay.

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American troops trying to hold on to fragile security gains in the city have little choice.

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The Union troops were able to hold on that day, and the next day reinforcements arrived and turned defeat into victory.

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