[Petraeus] then reflected on the past strategy. “For a variety of reasons, some pretty good reasons, we were gradually consolidating in larger bases and handing off to the Iraqis. The transition to Iraqi Security Forces, Iraqi control and local control was emphasized heavily. That was sort of moving along reasonably well until it was really undone by the bombing of that mosque and the resulting sectarian violence.
My question about the timing of the Anbar Awakening was intended to point out that given that the Awakening occurred before the surge, putting an additional 30,000 troops into Iraq was not a precondition to obtaining a significant breakthrough in the war.
Gen. Patraeus is a savvy guy but way late to this party. I don’t see how anyone can give credit to anyone in the WH for bringing new ideas in at this late date.