It just keeps on getting better

Remember the "flypaper strategy?" I'm reminded now, as I was when the phrase first came up, of the line in the book (and terrific movie) The Moon is Down, about Norwegian resistance to the Nazi invasion in World War II. A German soldier, told that the Germans have conquered Norway, breaks down in hysterical laughter, crying "the flies have conquered the flypaper!"

Iraqi insurgents have proved to be better equipped and more elusive than expected, United States marines have said at the end of a week-long operation near the Syrian border[, reports the UK's Sunday Telegraph].

Many rebels wore bullet-proof vests and a number had Soviet-designed armour piercing bullets and night sights, equipment rarely seen previously in Iraq. ...

A spokesman described the operation as a "success" saying that more than 125 insurgents were killed and that it had established that the area was no longer an insurgent "safe haven".

Oh, yes indeedy, and now that US troops have pulled back from the area, we can be assured, completely assured, that no insurgent will dare come back because - well, actually, how can we be? What, did we spray the whole area with Insurgent-Be-Gone^reg.?

Secretary of State Can'tbe Right actually made a wise comment during her one-day visit to Iraq. Yes, I know it's hard to believe, but it's true:

"Yes, the insurgency is very violent, but you can beat insurgencies, not just militarily," said Miss Rice during a stop in Kurdish city of Irbil. "You can beat them having a political alternative that is strong."

Remember that the next time some general tries to make happy talk about military progress in Iraq - or even when one describes an operation such as the one just concluded as a "success." (Remember when we had "broken the back of the insurgency?" Ah, those were the days!)