The real reason the surge failed.

[Ravy]

The surge was designed to improve the security of Iraq to give the Iraq government the "breathing room" to get its act together.

Most Democrats are concentrating on disputing the fact that the surge really provided the security it intended.

I feel it is counter-productive to argue whether the surge provided the security necessary. The real point is that the Iraq government did not take advantage of the additional security to significantly strengthen its ability to govern.

Arguing that the surge did not provide the security to meet that end leads to essentially two positions: a. get out because we cannot provide the security necessary, or b. give it more time to allow us to increase the security to a satisfactory level to meet the objective.

However, imho, the *real* point is that increasing security is highly unlikely to produce the effect for which the increased security was intended. *That* is the real failure of the policy. The Iraq government used what "breathing room" it had to go on a two-month vacation, and has made no significant progress in unifying the country or advancing its ability to govern.

"We succeeded. They didn't. Bring 'em home." is an argument short enough for even die-hard Republicans to understand.

[Warpy]

1. The meme: "We gave them breathing room, they went

on vacation instead of solving their problems."

That will do it.

[eleny]

2. Your position was what John Kerry asserted on MTP this morning

He didn't talk about how the Iraqi Congress went on vacation. He went deeper. He pointed out that the surge was based on a policy born out of a fundamental lack of understanding on the part of the Bush administration of the religious and cultural differences among the parties involved.

Thankfully, it was a concise response of a nuanced issue. Kerry came prepared to cut to the chase and slice through McCain's weak argument.

[Ravy]

3. Good to hear!

I will have to catch the video somewhere. I hope it changes the discussion.

[AndyTiedye]

4. It Was Never Intended to be Temporary

They will withdraw a few troops, probably even fewer than they are saying now,
but only because they haven't got enough cannon fodder to maintain these levels.
169,000 became the "new normal", and troops are facing even longer tours of duty
and less rest time. They know they will need all those troops, and twice again as many
more, when they attack Iran.