On the Ground in Iraq

This piece, by Lawrence Kaplan, is the smartest thing I've read in a while about what's actually happening on the ground in Iraq. It has the virtue of first-hand reporting from al-Anbar Province and some very good analysis about why the Baghdad "surge" is probably doomed. I differ from Kaplan on one point, however: he'd maintain our troop levels in Baghdad and concentrate the surge on the provinces. I'd withdraw from the civil war in Baghdad, begin pulling our troops out of Iraq--but focus on our long-term national interests: i.e. helping the Sunnis to fight Al Qaeda in al-Anbar.