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LG, he is stating the obvious. It aint over, not when guys on both sides are carrying guns in near proximity to eachother.

In the last month, while we lost (far too many) troops in various parts of the country, our losses in Fallujah were quite small, yet we killed many hundreds of the enemy.

We let the IGC try to handle it. It helped to defuse the political pressure mounting, but did nothing to bring the bad guys to account.

So many of them remain inside fallujah and Marines and friendly Iraqi police remain outside it. Now it is the turn for the Iraqi police to try to pacify it.

Curiously, this approach is what the army was doing all along in Fallujah. Frankly letting that hell-hole simmer, avoiding a direct confrontation.

Do we have to 'win' fallujah to win in Iraq. Not necessarily, since a cordon and checkpoints would be enough to keep the bad guys bottled up. But the precedent of backing down to political pressure is an unfortunate one. Once sovereignty happens june 30th, it is clear that more of the same could happen.... which mean iraqis better be ready to FIX THEIR OWN PROBLEMS!

And I am sure the problem of Fallujah will be awaiting whoever wants to stir up that nest.

The battle is certainly not over.

Not by a long shot.