'Surge' Importance Disputed

COOL

FIRST TO COMMENT!!!

THANKS

FOR

THE

VIDEO

PAYING IT FORWARD:)

A TEN I SEND

Thanks Palmer. I hope we find a way to put these criminals where they belong.

This is an important video to watch. As I and others have said in comments going back to the summer, the "surge" was a complex summation of events and strategies that in toto have had a significant effect on reducing the short term violence in Iraq. Too often, however, the "surge" was oversimplified to mean "increased troop presence." The reality is that the increased troop presence would likely have done little to reduce violence, and in fact may have increased it, if it was in fact the only action taken. As the video suggests, the Anbar Awakening was more a result of al Qaeda in Iraq's strategic mistakes, causing local push back, then it was part of our own strategy. I actualy give tremendous credit to General Petraeus for recognizing the value of the Anbar Awakening and joining forces against AQI.

The other issues, forced segregation of Sunni and Shia, agreement by al Sadr for a cease fire, and other activities, all contributed to the reduced violence. Some of these actions may have negative long term impacts, but they have been effective in the short term. That is the difficulty - translating short term, US-based, actions into workable long term Iraqi-based solutions that allow for sustainable self-sufficiency.