It could just be the quagmire before the storm too...
Goad the Iraqi's into thinking they have a chance at winning. Hopefully they mount some sort of daring counter offensive. Then whack...
What better way to draw them out of the cities than to make your troops look ineffective in small engagements.
Even with embedded news media telling us of "every move", don't think for a moment that the real strategy has been given away.
The Iraqi's have no idea what they are in for...In in some respects, the longer this drags out, the worse it is for the Republican Guard soldiers, who are getting pounded from multiple directions.
Scott