tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post4257531789125657882..comments2024-02-29T12:38:32.191-08:00Comments on MUSINGS ON IRAQ: Critique of “Testing The Surge,” Article Misses Major Factors That Reduced Violence In IraqJoel Winghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-21479617522581872712012-07-23T00:39:33.875-07:002012-07-23T00:39:33.875-07:00No, never been to Baghdad or Iraq. Had a chance a ...No, never been to Baghdad or Iraq. Had a chance a couple years ago for a job, but couldn't take the offer.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-26949824958212918802012-07-23T00:36:14.664-07:002012-07-23T00:36:14.664-07:00Joel, have you ever been to Baghdad?Joel, have you ever been to Baghdad?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-21981333642526592092012-07-18T19:25:09.835-07:002012-07-18T19:25:09.835-07:00Joel:
Yours and Elliot's points: There were m...Joel:<br /><br />Yours and Elliot's points: There were more things going on that have yet to be considered.<br /><br />Like chaos theory. It all looks random unless you know what all the drivers and interactions are.Steve Donnelly, AICPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11707306512563808960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-84309097397721665502012-07-18T16:37:03.704-07:002012-07-18T16:37:03.704-07:00Anon thanks for the suggestion, I'll do that.Anon thanks for the suggestion, I'll do that.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-79432277609578211692012-07-18T13:19:43.871-07:002012-07-18T13:19:43.871-07:00You should write this up and send it to Internatio...You should write this up and send it to International Security. There are some great points here that need to be published, and IS publishes short(er) response pieces. Just a thought.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-31102890512503272732012-07-18T12:13:57.935-07:002012-07-18T12:13:57.935-07:00Joel, it was announced as part of it 2 months befo...Joel, it was announced as part of it 2 months before the first US surge BCT arrived - by Malaki...<br /><br />The numbers went from 125,000 in the IA to just under 200,000 during the surge. And since the IA Brigades each had a US Battalion partnered with it we know the numbers are accurate for that time.<br /><br />As to the awakening, look on the FP page of my OOB. Under Emergency Police. Except for the Region I [KRG], those elements and 2 of the FP Divs did not exist prior to the surge - they did by the end of it. The entire Anbar PSF Division is personnel from the awakening. Not to mention that the entire FP existing was purged and retrained at the same time then partnered with a US Bn per each FP Bde.<br /><br />They have a large GIGO factor in that article - primarily due to the US centric focus...<br /><br />We went in with enough forces to provide a partnered Bn with each IA/FP/DBE Bde and changed the NTC training/embed practices just to optimize ISF training.<br /><br />That is all on the record - not opinion.DJ Elliottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-70234679702730596462012-07-18T11:16:55.669-07:002012-07-18T11:16:55.669-07:00Actually, Maliki announced those increases as the ...Actually, Maliki announced those increases as the Iraqi part of the surge - it was a primary from 2 months before the first US surge Bde arrived...<br /><br />Were there additional taskers that popped up - yes.<br /><br />3,000 per Bde, plus DivTroops. The IA increased over 70,000 in that period. They were graduating a new IA Bde from USF at Besmaya at the peak. <br /><br />Also, Malaki authorized the 5 northern divs to recruit and man up to 125% as part of this. Since then, the excess has been being converted into Artillery and Support Bns - IA combat bns peaked in Oct 2008 at 212.DJ Elliotthttp://home.comcast.net/~djyae/site/?/home/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-7924791696928283022012-07-18T10:54:15.957-07:002012-07-18T10:54:15.957-07:00DJ
As for your main point about the purpose of th...DJ<br /><br />As for your main point about the purpose of the Surge, I would say that it had many and those changed as well over time. The Surge did not start for example with the idea of starting the Sons of Iraq program to turn the insurgents, but it became one. Creating more Iraqi forces was another goal, but I personally don't think it was the main one.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-68573502863483851412012-07-18T10:43:22.874-07:002012-07-18T10:43:22.874-07:00DJ,
The original "Testing The Surge" ar...DJ,<br /><br />The original "Testing The Surge" article mentioned that there was a large increase in Iraqi forces by the time the Surge was over. I'd have to check with the piece, but I believe they said there were around 30,000 additional Iraqi forces by the end.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-66775457478503634542012-07-18T10:23:47.633-07:002012-07-18T10:23:47.633-07:00Every report I read miss the point and objectives ...Every report I read miss the point and objectives of the surge because they leave out the Iraqi component.<br /><br />We sent 5 Brigades, at the same the IA formed 20 new Brigades that those 5 US Brigades partnered with to train them.<br /><br />When the US surge brigades left - they left 20 additional trained IA Bdes that haven't gone away.<br /><br />When the surge was announced, the IA had 10 Divisions, 36 Brigades, 112 Battalions. Today the IA has 14 Divisions, 56 Brigades, 182 Battalions - almost all the extra was formed and trained by the US surge brigades.<br /><br />There were corresponding increases in the Iraqi MoI forces as well.<br /><br />The real purpose of the surge was to expand the permanent forces in Iraq and it was a success. It had its problems - at least 5 Bdes of the IA had to be scrapped and rebuilt during that period, the FP [NP] had to be completely retrained, etc.<br /><br />This is what all the critics ignore...DJ Elliotthttp://home.comcast.net/~djyae/site/?/home/noreply@blogger.com