Which came first; the Anbar Awakening or the Surge in Iraq?

Question

McCain is saying that the surge is the reason for the Anbar Awakening, which was when the Iraqi's started fighting the insurgency on their own, but according to this video the "Surge" had nothing to do with the Anbar Awakening. What do you think? Here's the video I just watched http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=PvuVMe2W75E&feature=related

Answer 1

The Anbar Awakening is the very reason for the Surge. Once Jr. made sure he had the commitment of the Sunni tribes and how they were well on their way to get rid of AlQaeda he sprang into action so he can claim credit for the results.

It's despicable how Jr and his buddies conducted the entrie war. If they had half a brain they would have avoided all the bloodshed of the last 5 years and would have been able to work out a Shiite-Sunni alliance.

It was the firing on the entire Iraqi army and other Baath party members from their government jobs coupled with the Abu Ghraib humiliation that made the Sunnis so mad they invited AlQaeda in to help them fight the Americans and the Shiites.

McCain is a good man but he's first and foremost a loyal soldier and will do his utmost not to contradict his superiors no matter what.

Answer 2

Isn't it just like liberals to downgrade the roll American soldiers had in the Iraq victory. All during the war Democrats in congress have undermined our troops and our effort in Iraq and now that the war is virtually over they refuse to give credit to American troops who largely brought this about.

I may despise McCain but I could never vote for a Democrat after what they have done.

Answer 3

The provincial leadership were trying to make a go of it.  The population at large were too afraid of the tangos to follow their leadership until the surge troops arrived and started kicking tail.

Remember which of the candidates opposed the surge, said it wouldn't work, and continued to call it a failure once it had begun.  HINT: He was just there and couldn't have been without the surge, which caused the "awakening" of the locals.