Fallouja Rises Again From The Ashes Of War

Fallouja, Iraq - The one lane bridge over the Euphrates River where a mob hung the charred bodies of slain Americans four years ago is now a focal point in th revitalization of this war-ravaged city.

The Iraqi government and the U.S. plan to widen the pedestrian pathways on either side of the bridge so shoppers can stream into Fallouja, western neighborhood and buy food, clothing and other goods from stores that again line the streets of a city once given up for dead.

The comeback of Fallouja, the site of two major battles between Marines and insurgents in 2004, surprises even the most optimistic U.S. planners.

"It continues to outpace all expectations," said Navy Capt. John Dal Santo, part of a State department-funded effort called the Provincial Reconstruction Team for Fallouja.