General Raymond Odierno recently announced that the surge of forces into Iraq has been completed and that the expected increase in operations has begun. Since President George W. Bush announced the new strategy in January, we have already seen some positive developments on the ground in Baghdad, but challenges remain, and the ultimate outcome of the struggle has yet to be decided. With the last of the additional troops in place, Washington awaits the assessment to be offered by General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker in September. Can the new strategy bring violence under control in the Iraqi capital to give the Iraqi government the time and space it needs to make the difficult political decisions necessary for lasting peace?

At this event, AEI resident scholar Frederick W. Kagan will be joined by former acting Army chief of staff General Jack Keane and defense analyst James Miller to discuss the progress of the surge strategy in Iraq and to comment on what can be expected in the weeks and months ahead. AEI’s Danielle Pletka will moderate.