We have heard from many in other parts of the country who have a strongly divergent opinion. Anecdotal evidence must be viewed collectively.

This part is illiuminating "Perez is hardly alone. In a dozen interviews, Marines from a platoon known as the "81s" expressed in blunt terms their frustrations with the way the war is being conducted and, in some cases, doubts about why it is being waged." indicates yet another press attempt to massage the message. The troups are frustrated about not going after the bad guys, with a smaller secondary discontent with being there yet that is the part that gets highlighted. Wouldn't do to have a title like "Troups Itching To Go After The Bad Guys" would it?

Meanwhile I think this provides a reasonable explanation for the troups frustration:
"Senior officers said they shared many of the platoon's frustrations but added that it was difficult for low-level Marines to see the larger progress being made across Iraq. Maj. Douglas Bell, the battalion's executive officer, said "one of the most difficult things about the insurgency is identifying the enemy."

Bell said it was frustrating for "every Marine in the battalion" to search for insurgents on a daily basis, only to be attacked repeatedly with bombs and mortars detonated or launched by an invisible enemy. "You want to get your hand around his frigging collar and kick his ass," Bell said. "But they slip away."

Do you expect the marines to be sent to the places where things are going well or to those where things are going bad?

On the other hand this article raises issues that need to be addressed and I don't think Iraq will end up a success if these kinds of issues are ignored.

Regards,
Mark