It doesn't end with Falluja

A Marine general commented last week after his men ousted nearly all Iraqi guerrillas from Fallouja that the two weeks of fighting had "broken the back of the insurgency." If only it were that simple.

Even as Marines tried to kill the last remnants of resistance in Fallouja, guerrillas stormed police stations in the northern city of Mosul, where more than 80 percent of police responded by abandoning their posts.

The U.S. goal is to get an Iraqi army and police force trained to provide the nation's security and let American troops come home; that objective remains elusive. Iraqi soldiers following Marines into battle in Fallouja did well, but their numbers are few.

As the killing has spread, the political battle has suffered setbacks. Dozens of political groups, many with mostly Sunni members, announced plans to boycott January's elections, in part because of anger over Fallouja.

A boycott would undercut the legitimacy of balloting; the interim Iraqi government should try to bring all politicians into the process. If that proves impossible, those elected will have to try to govern in a manner that makes all Iraqis feel they have a stake in the nation, regardless of religious beliefs.

-- Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles.