i tend to think that the recent retaking of fallujah indicates that with the current US strategy, there are not enough troops.
with more coalition troops other options might open up.
but as long as there are not enough troops to protect all assets and secure all cities, then other insurgencies breaking out will only escalate.
if you're gonna go in as an invader, go in big. it will cut losses like the dozens of marines it took to retake fallujah.
and each city that has to be retaken also increases the number of civilian dead, and that is not too popular. it's way past 5 figures now, and the insurgents themselves are a lot less careful with their bombing than the americans.
i think the US has two paths:
1) reduce the number of US troops already there, replaced by iraqi security forces.
they've been trying this but the quality and the number of troops currently available, are not enough - highlighted grimly by the massacre of 40+ boot campers a couple of weeks back.
this option is slipping away, troop effectiveness may not be as high in a year - these guys need a break.
2) go in huge. friggin' huge. end all insurgency with an iron fist, with twice the troops currently there. use strongholds at all economic chokepoints, use massive armed escort for every truck convoy, limit traffic, have total martial law, everywhere. there will be civilian deaths but that number will pale in comparison to a years-long insurgency.
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