Originally Posted by
C17MooseDriver
I think you're going to have to look beyond the talking points and sound bites you see on Fox news. The tide was already turning before the additional trooops arrived with the Anbar Awakening. The first additional troops didn't arrive until after the violence level had already begun to decline. The awakening brought about lower violence, the surge and redeployment of troops are helping to keep it low. The change of heart wasn't because of our show of strength, it was because Al Qaeda was killing Iraqis and destroying neighborhoods.
In part it was, the US was staying committed and engaged. Culturally and in practical terms, that was vital since the US has a rep of pulling out on 'friends' leaving them to hold the bag. This goes back to Vietnam. So yes, the surge in numbers was demonstration of US resolve to stay engaged. The alternative as you recall was some calling for immediate withdrawal or a defined date. The Iraqi's knew this was untenable. The surge gave them concrete evidence we were staying and not dropping dime.