January 10th, 2007: Troop Surge
US President George Bush
This event, where United States former President George W. Bush increased the number of American troops in Iraq in the to provide security in Baghdad and Al Anbar Province, is also referred to as “the surge”. It was announced over a television speech by George Bush under the title “The New Way Forward” in January of 2007. An addition of 20,000 soldiers, five additional brigades, was ordered to Iraq; the majority of them were sent to Baghdad. There also was an extension of the tours of the Army troops and Marines already in Iraq. The major goal of this action was to change the focus of the soldiers from combat to “help Iraqis clear and secure neighborhoods, to help them protect the local population, and to help ensure that the Iraqi forces left behind are capable of providing the security".This is an important event in this war because it demonstrates the sacrifices that the thousands of men (and women) made for the sake of this war, and the compromises necessary between countries in times of war.
