Bob Coe wrote:
The Commandant of the Marines said today, that his troops "will
not be able to enter Fallujah, Iraq for years." He said that until that
time, they will have to "rely on the Air Force ability to collect airborne
intelligence," and try and "plink them into submission."

"They have enough weapons and men to hold us off longer than
the Knights Templar in the same situation. Unless we are given
orders to destroy the city, it will continue to be a thorn in the sides
of any democratic Iraqi regime."

It's a sad day for the Marine Corps.

Why is this a sad day for the Corps?

The Corps could take the city in a matter of days, IF they were given
unlimited ROE. It's just not a reasonable move to allow them
unrestricted ROE.

Unfortunately, especially given the terrorists expertise is setting up
ambushes and situations designed to cause the highest rate of civilian
causalities (and none of the media ever bother trying to determine whose
bullets killed the civilians), this would cause even more damage to the
US side than if the US stays outside of Fallujah and waits them out.

At some point the civilians will get tired of the terrorists ruling
their town and either throw them out themselves or start providing
enough intelligence to allow the US to do so.