[LS]

I totally disagree. The OTHER strategy would lead to lots of dead marines, because it would likely take the 80% of the people who are for us, in some respect or another, and make them enemies. This is hardly what the attempt to democratize Iraq is all about. Oh, and 3/4 of the city is already under control and operating normally. It's one small quadrant---somewhat like East LA.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Is it too much to ask that our soldiers or Marines enter the mosques and seize the weapons stockpiled there? How stupid do we have to be?

The reason people bring up Viet Nam is the "stupid is as stupid does" factor seems to be rearing its ugly head. I remember the "we'll play by the rules and they kill us at their leisure" crap of Viet Nam. Somebody needs to be damn careful about this.