Illusions of Victory: The Anbar Awakening and the Rise of the Islamic State

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Carter Malkasian (Director of the Stability and Development Program, Director of the Stability and Development Program, Center for Naval Analyses, US Army War College)

Illusions of Victory

The Anbar Awakening and the Rise of the Islamic State

Carter Malkasian (Director of the Stability and Development Program, Director of the Stability and Development Program, Center for Naval Analyses, US Army War College)

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English

Oxford University Press Inc
14 September 2017

Asian history; Iraq War; International relations; War & defence operations

In the immediate aftermath of the 2007 ""Surge"" of American troops in Iraq, the defeat of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in Anbar Province was widely hailed as one of America's signature victories. US Marines and soldiers fought for years there, in grinding battles such as Fallujah and Ramadi that define the experience of Iraq. Eventually, the fractious tribal sheiks in that province, with the help of American troops, united in an ""Awakening"" that dealt AQI a stunning defeat. The Awakening's success argued that the United States could intervene in a war-torn country and, with the right strategy, bring stability and peace. It seemed to exemplify snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

A decade later, the situation in Anbar Province is dramatically different. In 2014, much of Anbar fell to the AQI's successor organization, the Islamic State, which swept through the region with shocking ease. In Illusions of Victory, Carter Malkasian looks at the wreckage to explain why the Awakening's initial promise proved misleading and why victory was unsustainable. Malkasian begins by tracing the origins of the Awakening, then turns his attention to what happened in its wake. After the United States left, Iraq's Shi'a government sidelined Sunni leaders throughout the country. AQI, brought back to life as the Islamic State, expanded in northern and western Iraq and quickly found a receptive audience among marginalized Sunnis. In short order, the progress that had resulted from the Awakening fell apart. Malkasian draws many lessons from Anbar. Chief among them, the most stunning of victories may not last. The fact that the leading model of success fell apart severely damages the idea that the United States can send the military to a country for a few years and create lasting peace. Even the most successful example was bound to deeper social, sectarian, and religious forces insensitive to temporary boots on the ground. From today's perspective, rather than decisive success, Anbar exemplifies how intervention itself is a costly, long-term project. The most brilliant victory could not escape this wisdom.

By: Carter Malkasian (Director of the Stability and Development Program Director of the Stability and Development Program Center for Naval Analyses US Army War College)
Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 147mm, Width: 213mm, Spine: 23mm
Weight: 408g
ISBN: 9780190659424
ISBN 10: 0190659424
Pages: 280
Publication Date: 14 September 2017
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

1. Introduction: A Decade Later 2. The War in Anbar, 2003-2006 3. The Battle of Ramadi 4. The Anbar Awakening 5. Land of the Islamic State 6. Conclusion: Lessons from the Past

Carter Malkasian is the author of War Comes to Garmser, an award-winning history of one district in Afghanistan. He spent over five years working as a civilian with the State Department and US military in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Reviews for Illusions of Victory: The Anbar Awakening and the Rise of the Islamic State

""Illusions of Victory is an informative addition to the literature on its subject."" -- Gates Brown, US Army Command and General Staff College, Michigan War Studies Review