The Surge is Working

[spence]

An interesting storyline here that I think may be underreported.

Clearly violence in Iraq is way, way down and the GOP is quick to point out that the "Surge", specifically an increase of 30,000 or so troops is the reason why.

Recent reporting in various media and the Woodward book would indicate that increased troops may be helping, but that the larger reasons for the improved conditions are mostly because we've granted more control to local Iraqi leaders (which Joe Biden has been calling for all along) along with increased special forces activity focused at removing specific threats.

Just recently, it's been reported that the Joint Chiefs never asked for the Surge, and in fact were sidelined from the discussion in favor of the AEI, a notable conservative think tank.

So I'm left thinking that the "Surge" is in many respects a ploy to provide cover for a policy change that might give credibility to the Democratic position. Instead of withdrawl you add even more troops while shifting policy on the ground. If it's successful you proclaim the increased troops are the reason as it cuts against your political opponents back at home.

Now I may be giving them too much credit, but considering the Administration has politicised just about every aspect of the Iraq war, largely for domestic gain, it's quite within the realm of possibility.

Otherwise, why wouldn't they be speaking about their policy tweaks as reason for recent successes?

-spence