More on what went right in Iraq

POST: Inside the Surge: 1-5 Cavalry in Ameriyah, by Lieutenant Colonel Dale Kuehl, Small Wars Journal, October 26, 2008

In our never-ending quest to understand what went right in Iraq with the surge, this is worth perusing.

Comments

[Jimmy J.]

It is easy to conclude that if we could have done things "right," (whatever that may mean) the violence would not have gotten so bad and lasted so long.

After reading many of the books on the war, it is my conclusion that things finally worked out because the moderate Iraqis began to understand that al Qaeda was really a vicious gang of thugs and that the Americans were actually trying to help them. When the tactics changed to clear and hold from clear and retreat to FOB the moderate Iraqis beggained the confidence to begin providing much needed intelligence. Then the Anbar Awakening occurred where the Sunni sheikhs decided to switch to the American side. Adding the 30,000 troops was the final ingredient to the mix that became a success.

Not to mention the length of time it took to train and season the Iraqi Army. That took longer than anyone expected, but is now bearing fruit.

All in all maybe it was the only way things could have worked out, given the political and military realities.