Christian Science Monitor: High stakes of taking Fallujah

Christian Science Monitor ^ | November 08, 2004 | Dan Murphy

[Sameul Haque]

CAIRO - As US Marines mass outside the tough Sunni Triangle town of Fallujah, analysts believe the imminent high-profile attack in Iraq carries high political risks.

The US says a principal motivation behind retaking Fallujah, considered the center of the insurgency, is to make Iraq safe enough for elections, scheduled for the end of January.

Rooting out the foreign insurgents the US believes are using the city as a base to wreak havoc throughout the country is crucial to stabilizing Iraq, US officials say. This, coupled with sending a stern message to militants that they will be dealt with unmercifully, could be a turning point on the road to winning the peace in Iraq.

But these broad goals may prove difficult to achieve, say many observers skeptical that the attack on Fallujah can achieve the type of results that US and Iraqi officials are hoping for.

Analysts say that rebels have already fanned out well beyond Fallujah to towns like Ramadi and Samarra, fueling a new wave of violence in areas the US thought it had previously pacified....

[LibFreeUSA]

I truly believe that the cockroaches have chickened out and fanned out to other spots.

[elhombrelibre]

This could also be a case of the anti-free Iraq reporters moving the goal post. Once the terrorists are smashed in Fallujah, and some pop up elsewhere, the critics get to say, "See, it was all for nothing." But if we don't attack, they say, "See, Fallujah is a no-go zone. You cannot have free and fair elections as long as this is unresolved." But in fact, little by little we're wearing down the enemy. It's tough going and heart wrenching as we lose servicemen, but the enemy is losing many too. And the free Iraqis gain training, experience, and more numbers as time goes on. They're in it for the long haul. We will prevail despite the terrorist and despite the media.