WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. Marines reportedly are concerned there will be a resurgence of militant activity in Fallujah if troop numbers are reduced for reconstruction.
The New York Times said the pessimistic analysis is in a seven-page classified report prepared by intelligence officers in the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force last weekend as the offensive in the Iraqi city was winding down.
Some 12,000 marines and soldiers, and roughly 2,500 Iraqi forces were mustered for the rout, and it was generally accepted thousands would be redeployed afterwards. The latest assessment suggests such a move would be risky.
However, some senior military officers in Iraq and Washington cautioned the assessment is a subjective judgment by some Marine intelligence officers near the front lines and does not reflect the views of all intelligence officials and senior commanders in Iraq, the newspaper said.
"The assessment of the enemy is a worst-case assessment," Army Brig. Gen. John DeFreitas said. "We have no intention of creating a vacuum and walking away from Fallujah."
