Has a major offensive like this every really worked in a counter-insurgency, strategically? I mean on a tactical level I am sure it is great and we can control whatever piece of ground but is this really going to serve our long term strategy? A big operation means big collateral damage which means good recruiting for guerillas. A big America presence further delegitimizes the Iraqi government, which of course aids rebellion against it. The only way we seem to have of putting an Iraqi face on it is by empower militias which of course does little to gain legitimacy for the government. All of this of course means a weak government in Baghdad and an on going guerrilla war.