Iraq and its Discontents

Reports from Iraq indicate that violence has abated recently. The decrease in casualties has even prompted some refugees to return to their homes in Baghdad. Many are attributing this upturn in safety to the military "surge," the deployment of 20,000 additional troops, which began in February. The surge boosted the number of American troops in Iraq to 160,000 and the number of American casualties to 3,867 as of November 20, 2007. The primary purpose of the surge, however, was not just to increase safety, but also to create a stable environment for political progress...