Falluja

US troops may be winning the battle in Falluja, but at a high cost: the death of 31 US troops and over 1,200 alleged insurgents. And the remaining residents of Falluja are suffering, since they lack food, water, and other necessities.

However, as Wesley Clark points out in his analysis, military confrontations alone won't defeat the insurgency (from Daily Kos). When US troops cause death and suffering among the Iraqis, the population becomes angrier and more motivated to support the insurgents. Riverbend, an Iraqi citizen, proclaims bluntly that "People in Falloojeh are being murdered," and that's probably the overriding sentiment of the Iraqi people.

I'm terrified of a Vietnam-like situation during the next four years. The Bush administration will continue to attack Iraqis without making any real headway against the insurgency. And US officials will refuse to acknowledge any mistatkes, much less alter their tactics.