A Military Tactician's Political Strategy - Thomas E. Ricks, Washington Post
As Gen. David H. Petraeus flew into Baghdad in February 2007, preparing to take command of U.S. forces in Iraq, Col. Peter R. Mansoor, his executive officer, knelt alongside his seat. "You know, sir," he said, "the hardest thing for you, if it comes to it, will be to tell the American people and the president that this isn't working."
The general said nothing in response. "But he heard it," Mansoor remembers. And he nodded.
Petraeus arrived for his third tour in Iraq to execute the "surge" strategy developed by Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno and outlined by President George W. Bush a few weeks earlier: 30,000 additional troops, new counterinsurgency tactics, and a mission to protect the population and bring security to a country verging on civil war, with the hope that political reconciliation would follow...
More at The Washington Post.
Comments (2)
Is there anything new here in these articles (which anticipate the upcoming release of his book) by Ricks that hasn't already been hashed-out in books like Bing West's "The Strongest Tribe," Linda Robinson's "Tell Me How this Ends," and Bob Woodward's "The War Within?"
Am I missing something profound and new here? Is it a unique angle at the same material and sources, or has he uncovered new sources, or is it the same basic material but simply told by a different analyst?
It seems to me that he is beating a very similar sounding drum.
Perhaps the book when it is finally released in a few days will answer such questions.
I look forward to reading it.
Posted by Gian P Gentile![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 9, 2009 7:24 AM
Gian:
I like your last three paragraphs...
Yes; perhaps -- perhaps not; and I'm not particularly looking forward to it but I may as long as I don't have to buy it.
However, I have to admit my attitude today toward 'journalists' was adversely affected by the utter foolishness at this LINK.
Posted by Ken White![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 9, 2009 12:57 PM