We were expected not to attack.

But the US did and by so doing revealed a large number of cards.

Just like a kind of poker game.

It's too late to come back now.
I remember hearing Iraq being mostly desert, was very much unlike Vietnam, therefore much easier to overwhelm.
But there are cities and Iraqis know their cities. Ambushes and sniper shootings are their way of fighting.
They had not revealed their cards yet, when the US decided to attack. They let the US troops in but now, there are other rules of war which iraqis are better at than expected.

Another kind of exposed card is international credibility and respect towards a democracy that is the most heavily armed country in the world.
The money card is slipping from the US as invasion, occupation and not losing face cost a lot of money.

Iraqis can do anything now. play the US game or wait . Iraqis have the time card in their hands.
Even if most iraqis welcome the change, will that be enough for the US to withdraw when here and there, ambushes still go on?
And despair provides them with the suicide bomber card.

During the Cold War, not exposing all the cards was what allowed peace to reign for such a long time. This was thanks to the Deterrence Joker.
That joker wasn't used this time.

Raoul