In an effort to fight the false narrative trying to be created by political partisans that the US military had little to do with the recent dramatic improvements in Iraq, I recommend everyone watch these two videos from probably the most respected milblogger out there Greyhawk:
Anbar Rising Part 1 - Narrated by Greyhawk:
Anbar Rising Part 2 - Narrated by Greyhawk:
For those interested make sure to read Colonel McFarland’s and Major Smith’s Military Review article that further explains the development of the US military’s counterinsurgency strategy that has proved so successful in Iraq.
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9:29 pm on August 1st, 2008 1
Alright GI, let’s for a moment grant your argument it’s full weight concerning the “surge” and the Sunni Awakening.
Even if what you, Greyhawk, and Senator McCain assert is true, the fact still remains that the Sunni’s are in a deal with the US military. They receive funding, advise, and other material support from American military personnel. They do not receive support from the Iraqi central government.
Furthermore, they are not-at present-being incorporated into the overall Iraqi security forces, which, unsuprisingly, is dominated by Shia elements. Now, there have been promises that jobs for Sunnis in Iraq’s security institution will be forthcoming, but they have so far been unkept promises.
And it is until this promise is dutifully realized on the part of the Mailiki government, I’m afraid that the achievment of the Sunni Awakening will have been to sow the seeds of a future sectarian conflict.