Another way in which we seem to be buying a bit of peace in Fallujah is the use of $2 million dollars to help with reconstruction around town. By being able to help do things like restore water service, hospital and schools to functionality, we've managed to show that we're serious about helping the people rebuild from the devastation our war created. That, I think, is a lesson that needs to be applied all over Iraq.

The Iraqis have so many reasons to be angry at us right now, but even if we'd handled other aspects of the war better, the amount of time it's taking to get basic functionality of things like electrical service and clean water restored is, by itself, reason enough for many Iraqis to be angry and uncooperative (though I don't think if our incompetence was limited to just providing utilities there'd be quite so many soldiers being killed). Imagine for a minute that it's the hottest part of the summer, and you have no electricity (and thus no air conditioning) and no running water. Even if you have a nearby hotel that you could go to and rent a room in for a few days, until power is restored, you're likely to be pretty grumpy about it (or at least every person I spoke to when I used to work customer service for a company that repaired things like electricity and water systems - and would pay for the hotel room while the work was being dine - were... I think I learned more swear words on that job than anywhere else, and had more than a few people say they wished they knew where our office was so they could come by and "pay us a visit").

Add that base level of frustration to the indignity of having your country's government overthrown by an arrogant group of blockheads (the President and his advisors, not necessarily our soldiers, though from some of the quotes I've read, I'm sure at least a few would qualify), and throw in everything else that's happened since we invaded, and it begins to become easier to understand why they've been so enraged. Showing even a bit of compassion, competence and respect can go a long ways under circumstances like that.

Still, even with the concessions we've made, things in Fallujah aren't perfect. We've helped establish and train a police force, a contingent of armed guards and a small (75 member) mayoral militia, so that most of the law enforcement and patrol duties are being handled by Iraqis, but US soldiers still run patrols as well, and not everyone is thrilled with the situation.

The reaction of people in the city has been cautious. Many who so ardently wanted American troops to leave now express deep reservations about the decision to allow the mayor — who was not popularly elected — to have his own militia. "This is the same thing Saddam did," said Nadir Mukheef, the owner of a juice bar.

Many are still unsure of our motives for having attacked their country in the first place, and question if we're really needed to keep the Ba'athists from regaining power.