…in U.S. patrolling around Tikrit didn’t work (surprise!), according to the New York Times:

“In an effort to be culturally sensitive, the division had scaled back its patrols and raids in late October to accommodate Muslims during Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim year, Major Aberle said. `Our hopes were that we would give the local population the opportunity to police themselves,’ she said.

But guerrilla activity increased, leading to the new crackdown, called Operation Ivy Cyclone, she said. `The intent is to let the individuals who are involved in anticoalition activities know that it’s not going to be tolerated,’ she added.”