It's hours past midnight in Iraq and forever until the dawn, and yet, according to the Post, U.S. officials still believe there's something to be "done" about the militias/death squads. Consider:

Although the statement was bolder than usual for Maliki, it fell short of directing that the illegal militias be disbanded, a move that American officials are increasingly urging as sectarian bloodletting and other violence soar.

There was a moment, perhaps, when disbanding militias was possible. That was the very very beginning of the war, when the U.S. still had the benefit of at least some "awe" and the militias were much less entrenched. The Bush administration opted to do nothing, and by the time it took its best shot, it was way too late: Iraqi militia leaders who eagerly signed the anti-militia law, CPA Order 91, had no intention to comply, and didn't. That's in this story, "Badr To Worse," from July 2005. It took me a solid year to report.

If U.S. officials in Iraq are urging Maliki "disband" the militias, they are issuing impotent, senseless pleas. Let's say Maliki did, at the stroke of a pen, "disband" them, and let's also say that the militias comply. What happens? Exactly what happened in 2003 when Jerry Bremer abolished the Iraqi Army: thousands -- possibly tens of thousands -- of ruthless men with guns are out on the streets. Think they'll act with malice toward none and charity toward all?

But, of course, Maliki doesn't have that power. At best, as with the late-period Soviet Union, Maliki will pretend to issue an order and the militiamen will pretend to comply. Some problems, when metastacized, are beyond remedy.