[Barlowmaker]

Evidence is that they were simply told that aggressively defeating Fallujah with the weapons and training they possessed was politically unacceptable.

The Marines are conducting the campaign EXACTLY as they were trained and resourced to do.

I saw a televised Q&A debriefing on C-SPAN last September involving 1st Marine Commanders LtG Conway, MajGens Mattis and Amos and other USMC military and logistic commanders from Iraq. They were back in the States, and one of the objectives they articulated in their time home was to specifically develop the strategies and tactics, and train and resource their forces to handle cities like Fallujah. Fallujah came up in the Q&A, and Conway said matter-of-factly that they were going to use the "lessons learned" from the less than successful campaigns of the 82nd and 3ID in that city to mold an effective force and strategy to deal with the unique challenges of that delicate urban/cultural landscape.

There's nothing here that was unforseen. There's no bullying or capitulation. The professionals are plying their trade with brilliance and professionalism. You've staked a contrived position on this forum, and you seem to be one of those annoying guys who's never wrong and needs to have the last word. You're playing the fool here.

[elfman2]

"The Marines are conducting the campaign EXACTLY as they were trained and resourced to do."

You’ve given no evidence to support that. Combined air/ground tasks forces don’t train to forbid the use of everything they brought with them in the offense other than snipers. Military Commanders’ Decisions in Fallujah Overridden by Politicians (CONFIRMED)

"There's nothing here that was unforeseen. "

You don’t’ know what you’re talking about. Read #63, from a father of a Marine there.

"you seem to be one of those annoying guys who's never wrong and needs to have the last word"

Rest assured that I’ll give you informed opinion the consideration it deserves.