Iraq Troop Surge

Guide Note

On January 10, 2007, President George W. Bush announced that a new "surge" of American troops would be deployed to the Iraq War to suppress insurgent activity and provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province. The surge was criticized by many, including top military officials such as National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, who felt that the situation would see better results from embedding U.S. soldiers in Iraqi units.

Fast Facts

1. Also called "The New Way Forward"
2. Committed over 20,000 new troops to Iraq
3. Surge operations:
   • "Operation Phantom Thunder"
   • Operation Fardh al-Qanoon (the Baghdad Security Plan)
4. Most of the surge troops were deployed to Baghdad
5. Plan was criticized for further stretching already thin U.S. Military resources
6. Surge reached height of 168,000 troops in September of 2007

On September 13, 2007, during a televised speech, President George W. Bush announced that, due in part to the surge's success, over 5,700 troops would be removed without replacement by the end of the year, effectively ending the surge.

On April 10, 2008, Bush said that all five remaining surge brigades would be withdrawn by the end of July.