Washington, D.C. ? It is still possible to defeat the entrenched insurgency in Iraq’s western Anbar province but probably not until U.S. troops leave, the American commander of forces in the provincial capital said Friday.

The insurgents are losing ground and Iraqi security forces are gaining, said Army Col. Sean B. MacFarland, commander of 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division. He also said his soldiers’ goal is to build up the Iraqi army and police to a point where they can fight the insurgents on their own.

His comments were the latest to suggest that progress against the insurgency has been spotty and conditions are too fragile to permit any sizable decrease in the U.S. military presence.

There are now 141,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, including 30,000 in Anbar province.