Exactly. There are some towns we are just never gonna "win over". We just have to concentrate on keeping them under control, and keeping our guys safe. That's it. Pour all the reconstruction money and "hearts and minds" stuff into the other 80-90% of the country where it will do some good. Don't waste it on these towns. All they'll understand is brute strength.
Oh, and find Saddam. Take away the fantasy of these people that he will "come back."
There is no safe haven in Iraq at the present. The terrorist, distractors are going to go wherever we try to reconstruct and try to destroy it. The bad guys have to be wiped out.