[Gefreiter]

We can agree to disagree about Sadr's influence on Fallujans, given the increasing cooperation between Sunni and Shia factions.

Similarly, neither of us knows what really went on in the city proper, you're right. Maybe someday we'll know who had whose flag in the city at any given time.

And no, we don't know what happened to the savages who had their mutilation festival that turned into a block party. Hopefully, they're all dead. But we DO know they aren't in custody

But none of your refutations to my original post detract from my larger point, that to Fallujans the USMC was defeated by them. And not only that, they're stronger than before! With this general commanding them, they now have political legitmacy.

[Gucho]

"my larger point, that to Fallujans the USMC was defeated by them. And not only that, they're stronger than before! With this general commanding them, they now have political legitmacy."

Bull crap GeeWiz

[oceanview]

most of the fallujans always did have "legitmacy". i never heard that our war objectives were "liberate the country, except for the fallujans and the Sunnis".

look, if indeed it turns out that this general is commanding the insurgents - if the insurgents and this military unit become indistinguishable, then I agree we've been had. we are a long way from that. and with the media spinning, and CENTCOM not understanding they need to have a media strategy as well as a military one, doesn't help to clarify what is going on.