The surge is working.
After 3 years of not having the right tactics, the present COIN (counter-insurgency) tactics conceived by General Patraeus are working. Switching to an "surround, kill, and hold" strategy is killing a lot of Al Queda – the real reason for the despicable attacks on civilians. The biggest reason why it is working?
Just look at the picture from MilitaryMotivator.com (I am beginning to love that site!). As with many things in life, there are successes, but they did not occur the way that it was planned. Originally it was to have come from the top down once the Iraqi national government was formed. Well, best laid plans and such.
The success, rather from the top, but from the bottom – grass roots. The local sheiks are turning from supporting AQI to supporting and trusting the US forces. This is giving the political process time to start.
Remember that when the professional politicians start yammering – the real reason for success is not them, but the boots on the ground mingling with local population.
Strictly a military solution? No, but the young Marines, soldiers, airmen, and sailors have turned out to be better politicians than the "real" politicians.
God bless them all, and may we all learn the lesson from them and their leaders about honor, duty, pride, and stick-to-itiveness.
