Bush promotes Al Anbar as success story - too bad Anbar had nothing to do with the surge

Keep repeating it, folks:

In truth, the progress in Anbar was initiated by the Iraqis themselves, a point Gates himself made, saying the Sunni tribes decided to fight and retake control from al-Qaida many months before Bush decided to send an extra 4,000 Marines to Anbar as part of his troop buildup.

The surge had nothing to do with Al Anbar province. So, if anything, Anbar shows that we don't need the surge troops in Iraq at all for "success."

- John Aravosis, AmericaBlog.com

Photo: Six of twelve lucky servicemen set for early rotation home aboard Air Force One.