[link|http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1174448,00.html|Time.com]
But contrary to what many many television networks erroneously reported, the operation was by no means the largest use of airpower since the start of the war. ("Air Assault" is a military term that refers specifically to transporting troops into an area.) In fact, there were no airstrikes and no leading insurgents were nabbed in an operation that some skeptical military analysts described as little more than a photo op. What\ufffds more, there were no shots fired at all and the units had met no resistance, said the U.S. and Iraqi commanders.

The Time article avoids coming out and saying it. But it is pretty obvious the whole thing was staged for the press. I would guess that they did think they where going to nab somebody, but the target was a small insurgent operation not something that would justify the massive operation and press coverage. And as the case turned out, the area had been cleared long before the troops arrived.

Jay