LAST Thursday, a thin man of calm appearance sat crosslegged beneath a ferocious-looking anti-American banner. He had just put his name on the list of volunteers for the Iraqi Holy War Volunteer Registration, which had been set up by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). The man, Muhammad Hazmi, had painstakingly drilled his registration number into his memory: 204.

With this number indicating his selection, the well-spoken 37-year-old was re