Did anyone ever think the surge was going to work? The Washington Post walks through the history of the surge, from the fallacy of the “Anbar miracle,” the false assurances of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the reluctance of the Maliki government. Most striking is the raging dissension between Petraeus and his commanding officer, who is responsible for the greater Middle East region (Afghanistan, anyone? Horn of Africa?). With Petraeus on the Hill this week, it is easy to get lost in the minutiae; take a few minutes to refresh yourself on how far the policy has strayed. (Washington Post)
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=179960