Compared to earlier wars, there has never been anything quite like Fallujah. The Pentagon saw this a good example of how to clear a city of fanatical defenders, with minimal friendly, and civilian casualties. Fallujah was seen as the future of warfare. How accurate that assessment is will be seen soon in Marjah.
While we certainly mimimized civilian casualties in taking Fallujah from fanatical jihadis, the city did pay a price in destruction of buildings, if my memory of the assault is accurate. It would be nice if we didn't have to really smash up Marjah, though we have to defeat the enemy there even if the price is high for the city itself. I suspect we can avoid a repeat of Fallujah, since the Taliban tend to be far less fanatical than the al Qaeda types who fought to their death in Fallujah.
