Click to play videoNew Delhi: Even as the militant attacks continue, a bipartisan group of US Congressmen is calling for a new assessment of the war in Iraq. They want President George W Bush to reconvene the Iraq study group.
But Iraqi forces may not be able to hold the gains made by the so-called "surge" in US troops.
US troops fire mortar rounds at a suspected insurgent position. Their mission - clear and secure the area of south of Baghdad so that Iraqi forces can take control of a checkpoint. After almost three days of fighting, they hand over the outpost - now it's up to the Iraqi national police to hold the position.
Iraqi national police Col. Shakr says, “This is a big sector and we need a lot of troops and coalition forces will hopefully help us to stand here."
The insurgents came - sooner than expected. A mosque right next to the checkpoint and this is that same mosque only about two hours after US troops left the area.
With the Iraqis struggling a British aircraft is called in to aid them. The fighter drops a massive two thousand pound bomb on a house used by the attackers. A rare opportunity for coalition forces to effectively use air power against insurgents.
Col. Wayne Grigsby from US army says, “When we find them like this, it's easy. Then we use all assets available to us to capture and kill them."
But while military officials call the air strike a success. They acknowledge - it highlights a major problem for US forces in Iraq. American troops fight and die to win terrain from insurgents - Iraqi security forces are often unable to hold the ground on their own.
"The key is, someone has to stay. There has to be persistent security presence. And that has to be Iraqi security forces. So we continue to work with the government of Iraq and the leaders of the Iraqi security forces to get that persistent presence," US Army Major General Rick lynch says.
A crucial point, military leaders say even with the major increase of US soldiers in Iraq, they will not be able to hold all the ground they are now fighting for that is something the Iraqis must do on their own.
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