| I think that we deferred to the Iraqi Authority, which was necessary if they have any independent credibility. Otherwise, I think we were ready to deal with Fallujah and other areas more forcefully a few month ago. I agree that military, rather than political, imperatives should be paramount, but we cannot succeed without cooperation from the authorities "on the ground", like Sistani, nor will it do us much good to signal that we are at the beginning of another "television war" by showing an overt connection to the election. Politics will enter in, as part of the strategic considerations. Mostly, I hope, myself, for a major offensive ASAP, especially in Fallujah, spear- headed, as I have said repeatedly, by special forces units for the "surgical interdiction" of the leadership and much of their armaments. But I am not privy to any special knowledge, so Que Sera, Sera.......... |
