Now That We're Leaving Iraq, What Did We Learn?
Abstract
On 19 August 2010, the last combat unit - the 4th Stryker Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division - left Iraq as Operation Iraqi Freedom became Operation New Dawn. Already our troop strength is below 50,000 in Iraq. It's premature to say that we have won, but we are leaving an Iraq that is "not perfect, but good enough to leave," as the Washington Post's chief Iraqi correspondent Ernesto Londono put it recently. This is a remarkable turn of events from just a few years ago. Yet, we do not clearly understand just what we did that pulled a potential victory from the jaws of defeat. Conventional wisdom claims that we prevailed because of the American surge between 2007 and 2008 and an aggressive shift in tactical operations to effective counterinsurgency (COIN) doctrine. These COIN principles included changing our focus from killing and capturing insurgents to protecting the population and liberally funding economic development projects plus essential services. The additional manpower of the surge and placing small combat outposts among the population were critical to our success. The "Awakening" in 2006 removed a large pool of Sunni insurgents. Partnering with Iraqi Security Forces and the "Sons of Iraq" militia was also very effective. However, our nonlethal effects were far less important than is usually credited. This is especially true of the billions of dollars we spent on projects and services.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA530427
Entities
People
- Craig A. Collier
Organizations
- United States Army Combined Arms Center