What do you mean when you say "political considerations"? What evidence do you have that the president is constraining military action for "political considerations"?
What specific mission has the president given the Marines in Fallujah and how is he not letting them accomplish it?
What specific mission has the president given the Marines in Fallujah and how is he not letting them accomplish it?
Marines are trained to attack an enemy and achieve victory. Fallujah, with its back alleys along the Euphrates River, presents immensely complicated and dangerous urban combat. Marines expect a high number of casualties in taking the City, but are confident that they can do so at the President's word within 24 hours.
"Political Considerations" include a reluctance to achieve victory because the result may include the destruction of the town of Fallujah. In this regard, I see no reason to differentiate between a "cease fire" and an offensive operation. It's semantics to the Marine on the ground. We are taking casualties.
In Vietnam, LBJ contrained military operations and prevented success as he become obsessed with the operation and interceded in operational planning.
"Your mission is pacify Fallujah?"
"Great Sir, let me sit here in this exposed position on flat ground on the leeward side for a few days while we "talk" it over with the enemy and see if they'll surrender."
Mission identified above.
Mission on hold, and I doubt seriously the order to sit in an exposed position was a military decision.
I think it's kinda obvious.
While I trust the military leadership implicitly to achieve success with minimal loss of life, I have less faith in political leadership that is often concerned with "image" and "perception" and "symbolism."
What we need is Chesty Puller.
In the end, the Marines will do what they are ordered to do. Sit on their butt, or kill the enemy. Either way - they will remain faithful.