"The Bush administration plans to delay major assaults on rebel-held cities in Iraq (news - web sites) until after U.S. elections in November, say administration officials, mindful that large-scale military offensives could affect the U.S. presidential race."
"When this election's over, you'll see us move very vigorously," said one senior administration official involved in strategic planning, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"Once you're past the election, it changes the political ramifications" of a large-scale offensive, the official said. "We're not on hold right now. We're just not as aggressive."
U.S. officials said the recent offensive operation in Samarra went more smoothly than they had expected, and has boosted optimism that more cities can be wrested from insurgent hands before January's election.
"People looked at Samarra and said, 'Wow, this works.' It wasn't nearly as difficult an operation as we had anticipated," the senior Defense official said. "After Samarra, we now believe we can do more."
If you ask ACE:
The "carrot and stick" strategy being used right now is working rather well. The radical Islamic terrorists would be wise to take the carrot now.
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