Iraqis Abandon Key Policy Goal Of Surge

For all its dissembling, the White House has actually been fairly clear about the purpose of Bush's "surge" policy -- more U.S. troops would lessen the daily violence in Iraq, which would in turn offer Iraqi political leaders some "breathing room" to achieve reconciliation. From there, sectarian conflicts would ease, and some semblance of stability would emerge.

It all sounds very nice, except the policy hasn't worked, and nearly 10 months after the administration started implementing the surge, Iraq has actually slid backwards on political reconciliation.

Should we be more patient? If we give an ineffective policy more time, will it eventually produce the desired results? Not so much -- even Iraqi officials now concede that political progress is impossible, and isn't going to happen.

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