Pushing…

Matt makes a good point; the idea that “one last big push” will make a difference in Iraq is absurd on its face. The basic problem of counter-insurgency warfare is that the enemy need not fight if it doesn’t wish to. Increasing troops in an area for a limited amount of time, which is pretty much the definition of a last big push, just means that insurgents will reduce their operational tempo until success is declared and the troops leave.