(MISSION ACCOMPLISHED and all that.)

Anyway, they kill a lot of people, destroy a lot of property, and "take" Samarra. Tanks can drive through the entire city without fear of being fired upon. So can Bradleys.

Do the Americans leave a lot of people on the ground to control the area? For how long?

Or do the Americans leave, with the Iraqis in place to control other Iraqis?

And how well has that worked? Iraqis expected to shoot Iraqis, that is. Except for US sponsored Kurds shooting Iraqis. That's worked OK, Kurds will kill 'em, breeds hate among Iraqis for the US.

So, three months after an overwhelming force of US troops and armor leave, is Samarra again a "no-go" zone? Or has it become a pacified area, with people loving the US and supporting the Allawi regime?

Or is this another city which has to be destroyed to save it?

Arf