Nice piece of reporting. Similar in nature to my:
http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/08/29/basra-and-anbar-reverse-roles/
and
http://www.captainsjournal.com/2007/07/23/calamity-in-basra-and-british-rules-of-engagement/
The British attempted to apply David Galula’s COIN ideas in a location that was not amenable to his ideas, and without the proper force projection. For a country brutalized by three decades of terror, the British approach failed, and badly. It should have been seen by them. It is too bad that the Brits have pooched the job so badly. Anbar is pacified, while the battle for the Shi’ite parts of Iraq may just be beginning due to the release of Sadr in 2004, among other things. Even as we speak, a new battle is planed by the MNF for Diwaniyah.
