They need a monstrous enemy

Not just a few dudes in a pickup truck:

The size and impact of al Qaeda in Iraq is hugely overblown by the media, elected figures, and military officials. Further, and perhaps even more importantly, its purported strength is essentially the only security-related reason claimed by the administration for maintaining our occupation. Political manipulation by government and military leaders -- combined with a lack of knowledge of situational specifics on the part of commentators and the public -- results in a profound general misunderstanding of the facts on the ground.

Incidentally, according to General Petraeus the surge is aimed at al Qaeda, a group about which he is severely deluded. It's all such a debacle.