I'm preferring to think of the whole Fallujah thing as setting a trap for the bad guys.
We didn't allow the bad guys in Afghanistan one place to congregate and so we're chasing them all around the country. If we would have let them have a safe haven and gather up, then surround them, and pick them off one at a time, the resistance would be all but terminated.
I think that's what we're doing in Fallujah. When we do eventually re-surround Fallujah and wipe them out we'll get butchered in the press saying we should have taken it out the first time. Unfortunately we won't be able to respond with "This was the plan all along." or else they won't fall for it next time in Syria or Iran or wherever we're headed when this one is over.
If this isn't how we're doing it, it's how I would have done it.
"I'm preferring to think of the whole Fallujah thing as setting a trap for the bad guys.
We didn't allow the bad guys in Afghanistan one place to congregate and so we're chasing them all around the country. If we would have let them have a safe haven and gather up, then surround them, and pick them off one at a time, the resistance would be all but terminated.
I think that's what we're doing in Fallujah. When we do eventually re-surround Fallujah and wipe them out we'll get butchered in the press saying we should have taken it out the first time. Unfortunately we won't be able to respond with "This was the plan all along." or else they won't fall for it next time in Syria or Iran or wherever we're headed when this one is over.
If this isn't how we're doing it, it's how I would have done it."
When this whole "thing" began two and a half months ago, I considered it much the same way you are. I stopped six weeks ago, however.
The reason is this. The UN rep wants al Sadr left alive. Brehimi (?) is the guy I'm talking about. Meanwhile, the attacks, the ambushes around Fallujah continue, and now Drudge is reporting Zarqawi is in Fallujah.
If they are "waiting" for them to gather there, I'd say the wait has been over for about a month now. Yet we do nothing.
The only problem I ever had with the Bush Doctrine was the "Arafat Exception". What I see here is a "al Sadr exception".
I don't like it, I think its a terrible decision on the part of the Administration. While I can understand the reasoning...too a point, my patience is up. Kill him, crush the opposition, turn over power.
Anything else gets "machevellian" in my opinion. And thats not the Presidents strong suit. His strong suit is walking tall, making decisive decisions, and backing them up.