The Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has issued a statement marking the fifth anniversary of the overthrown Saddam Hussein. Mr. Talabani said violence and corruption had become a disease in Iraq. For his part, President Bush said that the door was now opened in Iraq to a major victory. John Simpson is in the Iraqi city of Falluja, scene some of the most brutal violence of the conflict.

The situation here has changed out of all recognition in the past year. The shops are full of goods, the local police round the town together with the American forces. And local politicians and Muslim clerics talk over their problems with the Americans. These all represent a remarkable change impacts by the US moving away from confrontation to more of a pleasing role here. But it isn't and can't be a long term solution nor it is a victory or anything like it.