The number that stayed to fight surprised me as well.

Keep in mind that all insurgents need to do is not lose. They don't need to win, just survive to fight another day.

That so many stayed to fight might be a good sign that they lack support of the general population in other places and they had no place to go. This would mean we are being successful.

That they stayed to fight indicates a level or either desparation or zeal that time will have to interpret.

But I agree with your observation that it is surprising that so many stayed to fight. Without a defined target, our military becomes impotent.

Publius