If you liked the assault on Fallujah and Tal Afar....

This may be a necessary step, but I don't see how it goes down without alot of blood on all sides being shed. So many questions on this. Notice the inclusion of political considerations later in the article.

THE American military is planning a “second liberation of Baghdad” to be carried out with the Iraqi army when a new government is installed.

Pacifying the lawless capital is regarded as essential to establishing the authority of the incoming government and preparing for a significant withdrawal of American troops.

Strategic and tactical plans are being laid by US commanders in Iraq and at the US army base in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, under Lieutenant- General David Petraeus. He is regarded as an innovative officer and was formerly responsible for training Iraqi troops....

President George W Bush and Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary, are under intense pressure to prove to the American public that Iraq is not slipping into anarchy and civil war. An effective military campaign could provide the White House with a bounce in the polls before the mid-term congressional elections in November. With Bush’s approval ratings below 40%, the vote is shaping up to be a Republican rout. .....

The operation is likely to take place towards the end of the summer, giving the newly appointed government time to establish itself. If all goes to plan, US troop withdrawals could take place before the end of the year. In the absence of progress by then, the war may come to be seen by the American public as a lost cause.

So many questions on this. At the same moment that Rumsfeld is being criticized for "micromanaging" and taking decision making away from the generals in the field, this is being planned by one of Rumsfeld's darlings in Leavenworth, Kansas. Also, I would question how "highly regarded" Petraeus should be if his claim to fame is the training of Iraqi forces.

The plan supposedly calls for lots of US close air support including F-16's and AC130s FIRING INTO BAGHDAD. Petraeus's theory is that it will be possible to cordon off areas and fight small battles comprising only a few blocks, that the fight will be containable. The intent is to let the Iraqis do the fighting.

I really don't know of a better solution, but in the mire of Baghdad, just how are they supposed to determine who is a combatant and who isn't? If this is a real effort, I don't know how there will not be massive civilian casualties. I don't see how this doesn't create a backlash.

I'll leave the domestic politics to you, but this may a battle we win to lose the war.

There's alot in this article, it's worth a read.