[Alberta's Child]

The problem with your analysis is that this is not an "insurgency" we are facing in Iraq.

I would also point out that some of the insurgencies you mentioned that were won by the "government" were Iraqi insurrections that were put down by Saddam Hussein himself. Do you consider these cases to be good examples of "success?"

[LS]

Use whatever term you want. Insurgency works well---an attempt to overthrow a government (in this case, us). Count or don't count what you want. Bottom line, the odds are all in the favor of those putting down the resistance/insurgency.