2004 "Some 20,000 US and Iraqi forces had gathered around Fallujah amid mounting expectations of a major offensive to wrest the city, believed to be the nerve centre of Iraq's bloody insurgency, from the grip of rebels.

"Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who on Sunday declared a state of emergency to combat spiralling violence, has vowed to crush the insurgency ahead of January elections by force if necessary and has set his sights on Fallujah, which is believed to house followers of Iraq's most wanted militant, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi."

Shortly after this Fallujah fell, conquered by the goodguys, free for once and for all. Under a democratic government.

What would the a Marine know?
The chief of intelligence for the Marine Corps in Iraq recently filed an unusual secret report concluding that the prospects for securing that country's western al Anbar province are dim and that there is almost nothing the U.S. military can do to improve the political and social situation there, said several military officers and intelligence officials familiar with its contents.