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It's often the case where the defeated refuse to acknowledge their defeat.

In World War II Hitler was to all extents and purposes defeated by July of 1942 when his armies were brought to a stop in Russia, Rommel was stopped and the Allies invaded North Africa. Hitler was finished but he kept on fighting until he ran out of resources.

For the Japanese the war was over after the battle of Midway in July of 1942 but it took three more years to bring them to their knees. Admiral Yammamoto, chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy, whose staff planned Pearl Harbor was against going to war with the U. S.

Yammamoto said that he could "run wild" for 6 months to a year but after that he could not guarantee victory. True to his prediction, from Midway on Japan was on the defensive but fought the long defeat.

The Iraqi police in Amiriya held off the attack, and radioed for backup from Iraqi Army, police and members of the Thurwa al-Anbar, the tribal militias assembled by the Anbar Salvation Council. U.S. air support was called in to help fend off the attack. The Anbar Salvation Council leader escaped as Army, police and tribal fighters poured into the village and routed the al-Qaeda force, which was estimated to be several hundred fighters. Once intelligence source claims the figure of 50 al-Qaeda killed is low, and the number is likely over 100.

The New York Times claims "two groups that have had ties to insurgents, the Islamic Party Fighters and forces of the 20th Revolution brigade, counterattacked in support of the local residents." The proper name for the insurgent groups are the Islamic Army in Iraq, and the 1920s Revolution Brigades. And they also fought with Iraqi Army and police units.

The Islamic Army in Iraq, Jaish Al-Mujahideen, the 1920 Revolution Brigades and other elements of the Sunni insurgency are battling al-Qaeda in Anbar, and are fighting alongside government forces. Al-Qaeda countering by assassinating as many of the leaders of the Sunni opposition as possible. Last week's bombing of the Habbaniyah mosque, as well as the assassination attempt against Shiekh Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, the head of the Anbar Salvation Council, and yesterday's attack in Amiriya are part of a campaign to deprive the Sunni opposition of its leadership.

http://billroggio.com/archives/2007/03/the_amiriya_battle.php