Agreed...we had so much overwhelming momentum in Iraq when we rolled into Baghdad...then lost a lot of it when we put on the kid-gloves to deal with the mop-up. I'm hoping, with my fingers crossed, that when Sadaam swings the Iraqis will be at least a little emboldened to start stepping up to the plate for themselves.
From all I've heard/read, we've been just about as vigorous in enforcing the Iranian and Syrian borders as we've been in minding our own, and both in theater and domestically, those d@mn borders have been a big problem as well...
IMO, the Iraqis will not be emboldened to step up when Saddam is executed (if he is). Those Iraqis in the government wh are even loosely allied with the West are now looking over their shoulders and either making deals with the likes of Al Sadr or preparing to flee to safer countries if, when, the US pulls out. This election makes any rational actor in Iraq look to his after US plans.