Media Wunderkind Watch

"The media wunderkind have missed a fundamental point of the "Surge"

Iraqi Army battalions that were at, or near "Indepentent Status" are being pulled into Baghdad, their equipment is being brought up to snuff, and they are being "filled" out to 110% manning. They then get 90 days of actual Urban Combat before they are then sent back to the outlying areas.

Since Iraqi troops are being pulled out of outlying areas, planned Coalition decreases in outlying areas needed to be put on hold..

At the same time that the top IA Units are being rotated thru Baghdad for what could aptly described as their "Final Exam"...20 new Iraqi battalions are being stood up...so that the coalition doesn't need to "Fill In" for Iraqi units being rotated into Baghdad.

The end result is a larger Iraqi Army that is better equipped and better trained not only in Baghdad..but the outlying provinces.

The surge is the proverbial "One Step Back, Two Steps Forward""