The Price of the Surge

Foreign Affairs by Steven Simon | May. 27, 2008 (Special Report)

The surge has changed the situation not by itself but only in conjunction with several other developments: the grim successes of ethnic cleansing, the tactical quiescence of the Shiite militias, and a series of deals between U.S. forces and Sunni tribes that constitute a new bottom-up approach to pacifying Iraq. The problem is that this strategy to reduce violence is not linked to any sustainable plan for building a viable Iraqi state. If anything, it has ... Full Story »

Posted by Kaizar Campwala

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Jack Dinkmeyer
4.2
 by Jack Dinkmeyer - Oct. 1, 2008

This six-page article cannot be termed a summary; however, it contains excellent must-read information. It makes a strong point that the surge, so prized by ultra conservatives and their unfavorite candidate McCain, isn't really responsible for the reduction in violence. If anything, "this strategy to reduce violence is not linked to any sustainable plan for building a viable Iraqi state." Even with other factors, the surge cannot succeed in the long run because it was a reaction, not a plan. The author finally finishes with intelligent recommendations about how to reconcile Iraq--such as involving the UN, much to the chagrin of ultra conservatives--when America leaves after a hundred years.

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