Operation: Shawarma

That might not be a bad idea. When electricity, plumbing and even oil production still lower than pre-war levels and unemployment in the high 60s, handing out some tasty sandwiches might be a nice thing to do for Iraqi civilians. Instead, it's more guns instead of butter in an air operation called, I believe, Operation Swarmer. I'm sure it'll be a smashing success.

Instead, we're launching the biggest air operation of the war. Which ended a couple of years ago on an aircraft carrier, as I'm sure you remember.

The United States on Thursday launched what was termed the largest air assault since the U.S.-led invasion, targeting insurgent strongholds north of the capital, the military said.

The U.S. military said Iraqi troops also were involved in the operation aimed at clearing a "suspected insurgent operating area northeast of Samarra."

"More than 1,500 Iraqi and Coalition troops, over 200 tactical vehicles, and more than 50 aircraft participated in the operation," the military statement said.