Why the Iraq surge worked

A little over a year ago, President Bush announced an important shift in American strategy in Iraq. Since then, violence in Iraq has declined dramatically and important political benchmarks have been met.

Lt. Gen. Odierno explains the surge at The Heritage Foundation.

“The truth is that the improvement in security and stability is the result of a number of factors, and what Coalition forces did throughout 2007 ranks among the most significant,” Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno told a Heritage Foundation audience on March 5 . Odierno recently completed a tour of duty as second-in-command of all American and coalition forces in Iraq.

The strategy involved renewed offensives against terrorist and insurgent strongholds and providing security to the Iraqi population, Odierno explained. But the surge’s success also depended on new partnerships with ordinary Iraqis “that made the choice to reject al-Qaeda and extremism.”

“The future of Iraq belongs to the Iraqis,” he said. “The improved security conditions resulting in part from the surge of 2007 have given the Iraqis an opportunity to choose a better way.”

Odierno concluded his remarks by remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. “Let me close by emphasizing that there was much sacrifice to achieve these gains. Let us all never forget those whose lives have been changed forever because of injuries and those who gave their lives fighting for the ideals of liberty as well as their loved ones.”

For all the latest on Iraq, visit Heritage’s Progress in Iraq page.

Nathaniel Ward is the Editor of MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation.