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The Alamo was a fairly complete military victory for Santa Ana. So was Goliad.

But both were treated by the Texicans as 'war crimes' and reasons to demand independence. It did nothing to advance Santa Ana's real war aims of crushing the rebellion.

To think that Fallujah was about mostly quelling 1 town is to miss the bigger picture: Our goal in Fallujah was first *NOT* to let it cause us to lose the whole effort here, by careering out of control. The "MOAB" solution would have led to that. "Atrocities" would have led to a dangerous response from throughout Iraq. We forget that our main challenge was and is political, not military - and there was a deliberate provocative attempt to create an Iraqi 'rebellion'. We forget for example the Ramadi attack, a clearly coordinated attack that led ot one of the most difficult days in Iraq - 12 soldiers killed in Ramadi in one incident. had we had that sort of situation throughout Iraq, it was all over.

Thanks to cool heads in the Marines, the rebellion was first contained, and then sputtered into oblivion. The US military did jujitsu on the rebellion, refusing to play the part of over-reacting oppressor for the Al Jazeera cameras. The so-called 'uprising' failed, and we are now back to a lower level of violence and casualties. Moreover, the solution

Now a previous linked article mentions how 'mujahadeen' are enforcing islamic laws in Fallujah. If so, it begs the question - does this mean most people like that? Or that these folks dont represent Fallujah and represent something else? Either conclusion suggests that we were wise to let Iraqis deal with it themselves: If they *do* represent Fallujah, then in fact we could only win by flattening the place, which would not serve our war aims. If they *dont*, then, while we have missed an opportunity here to kill some militants (yet we got plenty), we give an opportunity to see how Iraqis can themselves assert a democratic authoriy *over* such forces.

I am frankly not disturbed by either case - this is local government at its best/worst. I think such lessons of governance are good lessons for Iraq, IF the trend to democracy is intact and safe, because then Iraqi voters will KNOW where their interest lies. Do they want alcohol sellers to get whipped? Do they want a govt of cranky clerics? etc.

"The US military did jujitsu on the rebellion, refusing to play the part of over-reacting oppressor for the Al Jazeera cameras. The so-called 'uprising' failed, and we are now back to a lower level of violence and casualties."

You've nailed it here. There is some indication the murder of the four contractors in Fallujah was done with the specific intent of igniting a violent response by our Marines against Fallujah. Like our recent strike against smuggling operations in the western desert (it was NOT a wedding party) they would use our response to enflame a nationwide uprising. But dammit if our response wasn't controlled. Even rational. Certainly not fuel for an explosive and sustained uprising. We didn't fall into their trap. We stepped around it, while still managing to kill a very large percentage of their fighters. They are now trying to regroup. But much of their manpower pool is dead. And some of that pool is accepting less dangerous and better paying employment reconstructing what was destroyed.
The Marine Corps strategy in Fallujah is clearly a gamble. But so far, it appears to be working.

The so-called 'uprising' failed, and we are now back to a lower level of violence and casualties.

Now with respectfully, I would say. that the "uprising did not fail". News reports show that the terrorist are still in control and praising this as a great victory. And the absence of violence does not mean victory. When Saddam was in power there was no violence in Fallujah either, very little in Cuba and N. Korea either.

No, I have to say that Fallujah will have to be delt with and everyday that goes by, the terrs will get stronger. We have already seen a WMD Sarin mine attack. There will be more if we don't stomp them out now. And to think the Iraqis will be able to do it ... Well from your lips to Gods ear.

Those are my thoughts.

Excellent comments.

Fallujah is the most conservative Muslim city in Iraq. It is the "City of Mosques". They practice a strict Sunni lifestyle by choice. That includes the Burqas and whole nine yards. The residents are not being forced into that adherence by some outside thuggery, as the Taliban forced upon Afghanis.

Part of the calculus of the Fallujahan challenge is their fear that their way of life - indeed their very lives - will be threatened by moderate Sunnis and Shi'ite in a new Iraqi state. Those fears and vulnerabilities were exploited by Saddam, and now are being exploited by violent Wahabbist terrorists, Baathist thugs and Fedayeen Saddam who have made the city their last stand.

We've handled the situation beautifully. The IED threat in the Sunni Triangle has been all but extinguished. Iraqi civil leaders and security guards are learning lessons and proving their mettle in the toughest town in the West.

The "Flatten Fallujah" crowd here on this forum were morons on April 1, and they'll continue to be morons on June 1 ... and will probably wield their moronic trade each and every April 1 and June 1 going forward. Keyboard cyber Morons are chronically moronic.