Understanding the Surge

Understanding the Surge from ISW on Vimeo.

Hat tip to Abu Muqawama. Read the comments where LTC Gian P. Gentile refers to this piece by Kim Kagan as COIN-porn.

Perhaps it is jingoism at its worst. But in advance of Veteran’s Day, it still documents the important job we tried to do, even if we later stopped doing it. The Anbar Awakening bit is hard to take, knowing the Sons of Iraq were often al Qaeda paid to stop their attacks.

For the uninitiated this film demonstrates the logistics of the Surge in Iraq and why it is impractical in Astan. Also, it is important to realize that Iraqi PM Nouri al Maliki owned a giant concrete factory and profited greatly by providing urban barriers.