American Strategic and Tactical Failures in Iraq: An Update

August 8, 2006

Working Draft for Outside Comment
It is one of the ironies of the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) the Bush Administration issued in February 2006 that many of its recommendations mark a de facto rejection of many of the major strategic assumptions the Administration made in coming to power and in shaping the invasion of Iraq. An Administration that came to office focused on the emergence of China as a potential rival now focuses on a “long war” with Islamist extremists and non-state actors.