The makeup of the insurgent/terrorist forces is well-known and documented. The people in charge, as opposed to the flunkies driving bomb cars and getting mowed down by the Marines, are in fact Baathist leftovers, Syrians (even based in Syria), and others. Zarqawi is a Jordanian.

Most of the arms caches, insurgent safe houses, and insurgents themselves that have been dealt with by the coalition were turned in by Iraqis. Almost every DOD news release on this subject mentions this.

The "tactics" they are using are not being used on an "overwhelmingly more powerful enemy," but on aid workers, civilians, truck drivers, people waiting in lines, religious worshippers, and others. When was the last time you saw a Marine getting his head chopped off?

It's painfully obvious you're only seeing what you want to see.

But then, as you say, "It's a lot more comfortable to believe that, I suppose. The alternative isn't so nice to contemplate."