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I never claimed it was another Vietnam; there aren't the major countries on its border supplying it with armaments, supply lines to the radicals aren't offlimits, and there aren't many Kathy Boudins actively taking up their cause in the US this time. But it also isn't another Austria. Unlike Iraq, Austria was a very homogeneous country and there weren't competing ethnic or religious factions. Aside from communism, there was no motivating radical force sparking anti-occupation violence (and the Soviets never found it very much in their interest to stir violence against the West in Germany or Austria nor was there much postwar interest in a return of the Nazis). There was also no large core of nuts in foreign countries bordering Austria to support insurrection. Also, as I recall, what violent opposition as there was in Austria simmered down as the months rolled on; in Iraq, it seems to be stoking into greater (and unfortunately, more sophisticated) attacks by the day (acknowledged publicly by Gen. Abizaid just yesterday).

By the way, if you want to see an excellent film on the Austrian occupation, rent The Third Man with Orson Welles and Jos. Cotten.

Yes Iraq isn't Austria. Iraq has most of it's infrastructure reletively intact, except for the baathists or terrorists from Syria trying to blow it up. Germany and Austria were in ruins after World War II and they had to look forward to the winter of 45-46, while the worst season(summer) in Iraq is going to be coming to a close in the next month or so.

The point being is that Austria was not easy, neither will be Iraq. Remember it has been about four months since the major hostilities have ended, and they ended while the worst season was coming up, summer. We weren't out of Austria and Germany after World War II for three years after the war. The US won't be out of Iraq in the next month. It's a long process and there will be bumps in the road, like there was in Austria and Germany. It was actually easier back then for the military since it didn't have a 24 hour press that was openly hostile to their actions.

Also, as I recall, what violent opposition as there was in Austria simmered down as the months rolled on; in Iraq, it seems to be stoking into greater (and unfortunately, more sophisticated) attacks by the day (acknowledged publicly by Gen. Abizaid just yesterday).

It "seems to be stoking into greater" attacks. Do you have any numbers to back that up? I don't see any evidence of an increase in the number of attacks. There was the expected flurry of revenge attacks after we killed Uday and his brother but that has died down.

in Iraq, it seems to be stoking into greater (and unfortunately, more sophisticated) attacks by the day (acknowledged publicly by Gen. Abizaid just yesterday).

More sophisticated, quite possibly. I'm not sure about "greater" though. It hardly makes a difference in my opinion. The guerillas can't win and they know it as well as we do. But their objective is to continue bleeding the coalition, militarily and financially, and so far they've been more successful than many expected.