Lack of control

One of the supposed success stories of the U.S.' occupation of Iraq was the demolition of Fallujah. Sure, it left the civilian population in ruins as well, but at least it had apparently wiped out an insurgent stronghold.

That is, until now:

The fact that the Marines are allowing former Fallouja residents to return only adds to the concern. So far, 140,000 of the city's 250,000 residents have come back to a city littered with rubble, its skyline broken by tilting minarets.

As Marines continue to relax restrictions on Fallouja entry points, intelligence leads suggest that insurgents who have already entered the city and others who might soon return have continued to plan attacks against Americans.

The story makes clear that Fallujah isn't yet under insurgent control as it once was. But it makes equally clear that none of the supposed progress in fighting the insurgency is permanent: even as new fronts open up elsewhere, insurgents are regaining some hold in the sites of former battles. And given that Fallujah's population was decimated by the previous U.S. offensive, there will all too likely be many more locals willing to sign up to make sure that the cycle continues.