FALLUJAH, IRAQ – "You're probably safer here than you are in New York City," said Marine First Lieutenant Barry Edwards when I arrived in Fallujah. I raised my eyebrows at him skeptically. "How many people got shot at last night in New York City?" he said.

"Probably somebody," I said.

"Yeah, probably somebody did," he said. "Somewhere."

Nobody was shot last night in Fallujah. No American has been shot anywhere in Fallujah since the 3rd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment rotated into the city two months ago. There have been no rocket, or mortar attacks since the summer. Not a single of the 3/5 Marines has even been wounded.

"The only shots we've fired since we got here are warning shots," said Lieutenant J.C. Davis. Another officer didn't agree. "We haven't even fired warning shots," he said. "It's too dangerous."

It's dangerous because anti-American sentiment still exists in the city, even though it is mostly passive right now. It isn't entirely passive, however. Someone has been taking pot shots at Americans. A few days ago somebody threw a hand grenade at Marines. Two weeks ago an insurgent was caught by Iraqi Police officers while planting an IED near the main station. He freaked out, accidentally connected the wires, and blew himself up. "That's what he gets," Private Gauniel said...