"Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss."

In one sense I'm relieved that U.S. Marines will be able to stand down in Fallujah and avoid an ugly and telegenic crushing of the insurgents in the city.

But what will the Iraqi people think -- particularly those in the south and north of the country who have seen this movie before -- when they see Saddam's former military leaders and members of his "respected" army doing the crushing?

And I was under the impression from our own Pentagon that former members of Saddam's army comprised much of the insurgent activity. I am as confused as the proconsul of Iraq, Paul Bremmer.

I thought Bremmer's disbanding of the military in such a disorganized fashion (and eliminating pay and benefits at the same time) just as looters were stripping the country bare was a mistake of historic proportions. But I'm not sure this reactionary reinstatement of the military to put down a revolt is such a great idea either.

"One Marine commander saw the arrangement as a way to enfranchise the Sunnis' who had lost their favored position with the fall of Saddam Hussein. In addition, he said, it could be a way to pacify the city 'without the butcher's bill of having to clear it block by block.'

"However, it is unclear how much power the new Iraqi force will be able to exert over the embattled insurgents, who have shown some military skill and are said to include foreign fighters among their ranks."

Like I said, I'm relieved to get our Marine's out of harm's way for the time being. But each day leaves me with the growing sense that we're preparing to declare victory, go home, and leave the Iraqis to their own civil war.

Polls like this one could hasten that declaration.