When the history of the Iraq War is written, it will be noted that the turning point came when the Sunni insurgents rejected Al Qaeda after three years of insurgency. The Anbar Awakening could not be planned. Thanks to Al Qaeda’s brutality, victory became possible.
No matter what happens in the future, Iraq will not become a part of the Islamic caliphate. US policy achieved three evolving goals, the removal of Saddam, creation of a terrorist free buffer state and the strategic defeat of Al Qaeda.
All the rest is just Monday morning quarterbacking.
Yep.
The SECOND biggest mistake was responding to 12/7/41, too.