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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices
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To: RMF who wrote (792564)6/30/2014 1:19:18 AM
From: i-node  Read Replies (1) of 1576664
 
>> Patreaus came up with the idea for the surge.

Bush originally got the seed of the idea from Col. H. R. McMaster; Bush had read his book, Dereliction of Duty, and McMaster led the "clear, hold and build" strategy which was used to shut down the insurgency in Tal Afar in '05.

When Rumsfeld was leaving, and before Gates was hired, Bush essentially conditioned the job on Gates' acceptance of the surge strategy. During this time, Bush had also suggested to Gates that he make a decision on replacing the military leadership, at which time he suggested gates consider Petraeus for that job.

My point is that the surge decision was made by Bush before Gates was hired and before Petraeus was put in place to make it happen. But Bush has said Petraeus was a "persuasive advocate" for the surge, so obviously he had a pretty huge role. Bush clearly thought a lot of Petraeus.

I don't think Bush ever mentioned it, but Woodward wrote in his series on "Bush at War" that Jack Keane was a very important private influence as well.

In retrospect Bush's decision on the surge was a "Profile in Courage" if ever there was one. His military leadership was wanting to start pulling troops out but Bush recognized that if Iraq was lost it would be far more than an insurgency, that it would be what it has become today.
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