I agree that this is a hard call. History, as usual, will decide.

One things for sure is that the Marines are fully capable of urban warfare. I think that the insurgents learned that the Marines are a whole lot worse then any Air Force "Shock and Awe." The mission was a success in that the Marines wiped out the enemy (ain't heard a lot about any survivors) in what may go down as one of the great military operations in a long time. I don't think the battle of Fallujah will be a great Al Queda training video.

I'm not real sure if that will lead to stratigic victory though.