[Guillermo]

Consider this from the Wash Post:

U.S. military officials in Iraq said that because of political sensitivities, overall policy decisions about the standoff in Fallujah are being made by the White House, and Marine commanders have been reluctant to make public pronouncements about what should be done. But privately, many say they believe the only way to eliminate the insurgency is through a series of large raids.

They note that a cease-fire agreement signed April 19 has largely been ignored by people in the city. Although the deal called for such heavy arms as mortars and rocket-propelled grenades to be surrendered to the Marines, all they have received is a small assortment of rusty, inoperable weapons.

More significantly, Marines note, insurgents were supposed to stop attacking U.S. positions. But front-line Marine posts are fired on almost daily in some places, prompting the Americans to respond with everything from sniper fire to precision-guided 500-pound bombs dropped by Air Force fighter jets.

"The only way to ensure that we really get these guys is for us to go in and take them out," a Marine officer said.

(Vietnam was fough from the White House)

[Eurotwit]

I think the Times is doing a story in their friday edition of how many marines were shocked regarding these developments.

But, I want to add that however much I respect (and admire) the marines on the ground, I would assume that they don't have access to the all the relevant information regarding the overall situation and the dilemmas faced in that respect.

I trust the people in charge to make the best decision based on their judgment, and I support the president.