Falluja: winning the war politically, if not militarily

By giving advanced warning to Falluja that U.S. forces would be attacking, 200,000 residents were given time to evacuate so they won’t be killed. This also gave the insurgents time to pack up and leave as well. This sounds like a huge blunder. That the U.S. is letting the insurgents flee into the countryside.

On the contrary. This is precisely what Bush wants. A military victory isn’t Bush’s ultimate goal here. Bush desperately needs the word “Falluja” out of the headlines. Period.

Falluja has been a political dagger in the heart of Bush’s claims that Iraq is stabilizing and peaceful democracy is at hand. Every time Bush says “peace”, Falluja says “civil war.” But just because Bush hasn’t (can’t?) gain victory militarily doesn’t mean he can’t get a political victory. U.S. forces will take Falluja fairly easily. And the rebels will go elsewhere to continue their resistance. Some compare this tactic to similar failures in Vietnam. That future losses will greatly outweigh immediate gain.

Doesn’t matter. To understand the massive folly of Bush’s strategy requires broad and deep thinking, not to mention juggling a bunch of names and facts. None of which will fit neatly into a headline, so most of America will pay little attention. They’ll hear that Bush freed Falluja and “democracy is on the march.”

If the 2004 election taught us anything, it’s that facts don’t matter anymore.