Originally Posted by tankdriver

The surge cannot work. Things may be a little less violent than they were, but that is only temporary.

It cannot work because the Iraqis have to step up, unless we plan to be there forever, in which case the violence will return, exponentially. The Iraqis will have a harder time stepping up if they have no pressure to do so. Our continued presence hampers their desire and ability to self defend and self police. We may have stopped sinking for a little while, but we're still swimming in circles.

If we truly wanted to help them with their infrastructure and then get out, we'd open those infrastructure bids to a global range of companies. Let Indian companies build the schools. French companies build the electricity grids. Italians build the roads. Etc. and so on.