The Long War Journal: Bing West's Iraq Report

Written by Bill Roggio on May 7, 2007 6:05 PM to The Long War Journal

Available online at: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2007/05/bing_wests_iraq_repo.php

I've reviewed Bing West's latest report from Iraq, which was posted at the invaluable Small Wars Journal. I had the honor of embedding with Bing's son, Major Owen West, for one week late last January in the Khalidiya region. Bing West's observations on the state of the Iraqi Army and police, both challenges and setbacks, largely mirror my own. He also makes several recommendations for moving forward, but only considers Baghdad and Anbar province as the major centers of gravity in Iraq. Here is where I disagree. While Baghdad and Anbar province are vital to success, securing both the Baghdad "belts" and Diyala are integral to the security effort, and the absence of these two theaters in his report is a glaring omission.