Fallujah assault.

[Ryan_Liam]

Fallujah is surrounded by the US Airforce and continues to pound the city from the air, it is widely believed to be the only major bastion left for insurgent forces (yes other towns such as latifah, but they’re no where in comparison of 300,000 in Fallujah)

So when the US and Iraqi forces retake Fallujah what next? What do you think will happen?

Will there be a calming down of violence to actual manageable levels? Or will this make the insurgents resolve even more of a tough nut to crack?

And what about the Iraqi forces, the National Guard, the Police, the commandos and special forces, with they ever be able to stand on their own? are they showing these signs already? Or will they forever be in need of Coalition support? Do the Coalition have a sense of mistrust with Iraqis and not allow them to be too independent in fear of them becoming another Fallujah brigade?

And lastly, will this be the turning point?

[ElvisL1ves]

@Ryan_Liam

Fallujah is surrounded by the US Airforce and continues to pound the city from the air, it is widely believed to be the only major bastion left for insurgent forces (yes other towns such as latifah, but they’re no where in comparison of 300,000 in Fallujah)

Sadr City is widely reported to hold 10% of the country’s total population. You might also have heard of Najaf.

So when the US and Iraqi forces retake Fallujah what next? What do you think will happen?

Pictures of the rubble and the homeless get transmitted all over the Arab world, more people there get pissed off and radicalized, you know the rest.

And what about the Iraqi forces, the National Guard, the Police, the commandos and special forces, with they ever be able to stand on their own? are they showing these signs already? Or will they forever be in need of Coalition support?

I would expect most of them to work for what they consider to be the legitimate government, if not of the country then at least of the area. If Allawi looks like he’s generally accepted in the area, then they’ll stick with Allawi. If it’s Sadr, they’ll be Sadrists. You should instead ask if Allawi can keep more than a token government going without US forces effectively under his control.

And lastly, will this be the turning point?

You mean the beginning of the withdrawal/expulsion of US forces and the beginning of the full civil war? Looks more inevitable every day, sadly.

[Ryan_Liam]

You mean the beginning of the withdrawal/expulsion of US forces and the beginning of the full civil war? Looks more inevitable every day, sadly.

I don’t think so.

Sadr City is widely reported to hold 10% of the country’s total population. You might also have heard of Najaf.

Sadr City is less volatile than Fallujah. Oh, remember the amnesty and arms for cash deal?

Pictures of the rubble and the homeless get transmitted all over the Arab world, more people there get pissed off and radicalized, you know the rest.

It wouldn’t of mattered anyway, we’d still be the ‘infidel pigs’ if we hadn’t of invaded or bombed those houses in Iraq.

[ElvisL1ves]

@Ryan_Liam

I don’t think so.

That’s nice.

Sadr City is less volatile than Fallujah.

But still “a major bastion” (your words).

It wouldn’t of mattered anyway, we’d still be the ‘infidel pigs’ if we hadn’t of invaded or bombed those houses in Iraq.

Do you really think everyone there is a religious zealot? Do you really think there isn’t a large number of people for whom the turning point would be the deaths of their families and the destruction of their homes? I think they’re all human with human motivations, don’t you?

[madmonk28]

As someone who has spent 8 months in Iraq since the end of the war and who has traveled all over the country; I believe that we are just witnessing the beginning of the trouble in Iraq and that it will get much worse.