Any sober-minded person realises that wars are not as simply as to dichotomise as “the surged has worked/not worked”. Just a little knowledge about the strategy in Iraq would move focus away from “The Surge”. The facts of the situation are:
1. A surge took place
2. A massive anti-al Qaeda Sunni alliance has turned Sunni attention away from the US
3. Shia militia are under a ceasefire.
Whilst the surge may have increased security in some areas it is quite clear from most observers that the Sunni alliance and the Shia ceasefire are the main initiatives.
To put a spanner in the works of those who think that the Democrats simply want to give up, I’m afraid the bad news is that the Bush strategy has been similar – to arm and support former Baathists and other arab nationalists and Islamists! To allow them to run Sunni areas and to leave the Shia alone to run their areas. THESE strategies are the real reason for a decline in violence, but as outcomes, they are a long way from what Bush et al wanted!!
