The strategic ?success? in both counter-insurgency and political terms of the ongoing joint US-Iraqi offensive, Operation Phantom Fury, against the restive insurgent stronghold of Fallujah (Intel Report) hinges, as is traditionally the case in counter-insurgency operations, on its carefully calibrated, restrained, and precise application of force in support of the delicate political and societal considerations, dynamics, and endstate goals necessary to achieve a durable counter-insurgency ?victory? and secure the post-insurgency environment.

The apparent goals of the offensive are to seize and pacify the stronghold and epicenter of the Iraq insurgency?namely Fallujah–and in so doing land a debilitating blow against the insurgency by killing or capturing significant numbers of the most hardcore insurgent fighters from within the ranks of Sunni extremist and regime loyalists, and foreign mujihideen and terrorists, including al-Qaeda (Group Profile) elements and the preeminent terrorist mastermind and ground commander in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The prominent role of Iraqi security forces in the offensive is aimed at demonstrating the fledgling Iraqi government?s writ and muscle in combating dangerous and destabilizing insurgents and imposing a secure environment to protect the Iraqi people, thus serving to cultivate confidence in the government–and with it increased legitimacy–among the Iraqi populace.