U.S. tests new tactics in urban warfare

In recent years the U.S. military has devoted much money and effort to preparing for 21st-century urban warfare – and this preparation may be facing its fiercest test yet in the Euphrates city of Fallujah, as the initial offensive began Monday. Fallujah’s narrow streets, mosques, and ancient neighborhoods make the city an archetype of an insurgents’ redoubt. Defenders will try to use their knowledge of the terrain to gain advantage over the better armed and trained Americans. U.S. forces will likely tighten a noose around contested areas, while attacking from unexpected directions in an attempt to confuse the enemy. In the long run, the central question may be whether physical control of Fallujah equates to its eventual pacification. In the short run, there’s little doubt that U.S. forces will eventually gain control of the city, say military officials and outside experts. New training, tactics, and equipment – plus the weight of American firepower – will see to that. Full Story