Anglo-US friction over ops in Iraq

[datroy]

The surge and the Awakenings were not mutually exclusive. This is a favorite excuse of surge opponents, that it was actually the Awakenings that turned the corner in Iraq. It was actually a confluence of COIN tactics applied in certain cities that were having success in creating security, the tribes recognition that the Americans could effectively provide security from AQI, and their subsequent displeasure with AQI. They would not have joined the Americans simply b/c they were fed up with AQI if the Americans proved incapable of protecting them. The surge consisted of taking this model and applying it as a national, unified strategy.

[PJW]

As a Brit, I find it to some degree insulting that the Chief of the Defence Staff felt he needed to 'set the record straight'. The mad posturings of Maliki and his reliance on Al Sada should come as no suprise. Neither should the interpretation of UK's actions in Basrah by the world's media be paid too much attention.

The tag-line in the article is hugely misleading and the provocation it was, no doubt, meant to engender is unhelpful