When the Great Uprising began in Iraq in April, the media were beside themselves with glee, taking this as prime evidence of the failure of Iraq policy. We heard about this being the beginning of the civil war, and the uniting of Shiite and Sunni againt the evil occupiers.

The uprising went flat. Fallujah, if not cleansed, is at least quiet for now. Sadr is trying to figure out how to get out of this in one piece.

The media is, of course, silent. Had we gone into these cities in full force, the media would have torn their raiments, wailed, and cast ashes upon themselves. Civilian casualties and destroyed homes would be tallied lovingly one by one. There would be pictures on every front page of the Burning Girl and the Armless Boy.

America the Monster, yet again.

Didn't happen.

But remember, the rule is, There Shall Be No Good News From Iraq.

I expect that the take will soon become how we "lost control" of these cities, and how insurgents are still in there, and Islamists running amuck in Fallujah, and how we should have taken a stronger stance. I'm already seeing some of this, hence this post, but I predict it's going to be the Big Story in a couple of weeks.

How We Lost Fallujah.

Remember, no matter what we do in Iraq, it's wrong.