Frankly, I don't like the current situation. Yet, there were really no good alternatives. A full on assault might have destroyed the prospects for the June 30th handover and beyond. Then again, it might not have. These are hard decisions.
I still think though, as I have said previously, that a succesfull transition to a democratic Iraq, trumps a localised set back like Fallujah as far as the Jihadists are conserned.
ANd if, after the handover, we decide to take Falluja, and the Irakis veto it, then what. Anyway, whatever might have happened with an assault are now moot. Ain't gonna happen.
And how do you see the prospects of democracy in Falluja. Think women candidates or those running on a Beer ticket will live more than a few days.
Can't do democracy when huge swathes of the country are not under US control. Let's stop fooling ourselves.
The only thing we care about now is stability. Elections will be upto whatever happens after the handover.
Which absolutely no one can tell you who or what is taking over.
I think we are close to the point where a hard line Islamic state is no longer acceptable in the world. Most of these people seem to want an "Islamic bomb," and 9/11 showed us that they'll use it when they get it.