tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post304777971727746991..comments2024-02-29T12:38:32.191-08:00Comments on MUSINGS ON IRAQ: 2006 Clear Hold Build: An Iraq Strategy That Wasn’t A StrategyJoel Winghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-87519575216752563142017-10-29T10:49:05.794-07:002017-10-29T10:49:05.794-07:00When Clear Hold Build was drawn up it was for the ...When Clear Hold Build was drawn up it was for the US forces to clear an area and then the Iraqis to hold it and then the US and Iraqi govt would do the rebuilding. When the Surge was drawn up by the NSC and Keagan and Keane it was to increase US troops to secure the Iraqi population specifically in Baghdad which was seen as the center of gravity in the war. When they were drawn up they were not similar ideas, and one did not lead to the other. Clear Hold Build was also not implemented at the end of 2006 like the Surge. The US would carry out an operation in an area, then turn it over to the Iraqis as they moved onto another area, and the Iraqis proved unable to hold the areas. Under the Surge the US and Iraqi forces would partner up in bases etc in Baghdad while carrying out more conventional operations in the Baghdad belts aimed at cutting off insurgent supply lines and bases, etc. Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-18419500425647374262017-10-28T21:21:52.482-07:002017-10-28T21:21:52.482-07:00The Surge plan was also a withdrawal plan. The hea...The Surge plan was also a withdrawal plan. The heart of the Surge plan was to surge the ISF (FID), advise the ISF, and help the ISF win. ISF victory means withdrawal.anannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-65642488872364802082017-10-28T10:30:21.750-07:002017-10-28T10:30:21.750-07:00I should add that right up until Bush decided on t...I should add that right up until Bush decided on the Surge Rice was still for having US troops withdraw and her Clear Hold Build was essentially another way to turn over responsibilities to the Iraqis so the Americans could get out. Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-55485844317082546442017-10-28T10:28:19.252-07:002017-10-28T10:28:19.252-07:00While something akin to Clear Hold and Build was u...While something akin to Clear Hold and Build was used during the Surge it was not based upon Rice's plan. Hadley at the NSC, Keagan and Keane and the others that came up with the idea of the Surge and later Petraeus who implemented it did not think about Rice's plan. Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-18054035353421582062017-10-28T07:56:22.663-07:002017-10-28T07:56:22.663-07:00"Clear Hold Build" was implemented as pa..."Clear Hold Build" was implemented as part of the Surge.<br /><br />The Surge was:<br />1) Surge in ISF<br />2) Temporary boost in international forces<br />3) Combined joint operations between MNF-I and ISF to clear (that mostly began June 16, 2017)<br />4) Followed by ISF Hold<br />5) Followed by ISF/GoI Build<br /><br />The Surge offensive began June 16, 2007. It focused on the Baghdad Belts. It accepted significant strategic risk in most of Iraq since elite ISF and MNF-I were withdrawn or not deployed to the 8 southern states, most of Babil (other than the top part where 17th IA Division engaged in an offensive in collaboration with MND-Center), most of Al Anbar (except for the western part), Kurdistan, Ninevah, At Tamin, northern Salahadin. After victory in the Baghdad Belts and Baghdad proper, ISF where redeployed to other parts of Iraq where Clear Hold and Build were implemented by the ISF with less MNF-I help.<br /><br />Clear Hold Build is COIN. Albeit in COIN this is done little by little a la a growing ink stain. There are also multiple shades within the ink stain (with some parts being safest, others being partly safe and so forth)<br /><br />anananannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-23887979546442837592017-10-26T15:41:21.717-07:002017-10-26T15:41:21.717-07:00Not sure why all this is being rehashed? It's ...Not sure why all this is being rehashed? It's not as if it is being linked to contemporary source material?bb/gjnoreply@blogger.com