Naval postgraduate school monterey, california thesis approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

partisan Iraq Study Group to chart the way forward. Former President George H.W. 
Bush took a more direct role in the stabilization of Iraq, meeting directly with Abdul Aziz 
al-Hakim, one of the most powerful Shia leaders in Iraq who controls SCIRI and the Badr 
64
Tony Blair, “Joint Statement by Tony Blair and Nouri Al-Maliki,” Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, 
http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page9507.asp2007) (accessed November 7, 2007). 
65
“Sudan Tops ‘Failed States Index’,” British Broadcasting Corporation, 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4964444.stm2007 (accessed November 7, 2007). 
66
Ellen Knickmeyer and Jonathan Finer, “Insurgent Leader Al-Zarqawi Killed in Iraq,” The 
Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2006/06/08/AR2006060800114.html2007) (accessed November 7, 2007). 
67
Pauline Baker, Lessons Learned from Iraq: Where do we Go from here? 2003-2006 (Washington, 
D.C.: Fund For Peace,[2006]). 
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Baker, 4. 

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militia.
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Current President Bush also signaled a change in strategy by replacing his 
increasingly controversial Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld with the moderate Robert 
Gates on December 18, 2006, and General George Casey with General David Petraeus on 
February 10, 2007. Sheiks in Anbar province began negotiations with Coalition forces in 
August 2006, leading to an alliance that was made public at the beginning of 2007.
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The new year also brought a change of U.S. military strategy focusing around a 
surge in troops designed to create enough security for Iraqi government institutions to 
start functioning. General Petraeus went ahead with General Casey’s request for 30,000 
additional troops to be deployed to help quell sectarian violence. Gone were the days of 
consolidating troops in large FOBs. Instead they would be deployed throughout Iraq in 
numerous small combat outposts called Joint Security Stations (JSS), which would be 
integrated with Iraqi security forces and the population. Although the new military 
strategy has been under fire since its inception in January 2007, the surge has led to 
improved security at the local level. According to General Petraeus’ report to Congress 
in September, attacks in the four major provinces- Salah ad Din, Baghdad, Anbar, and 
Ninewah saw a sharp decline in 2007.
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His report also indicated a willingness to 
continue to strengthen alliances with Sunni militias in order to defeat al Qaeda in Iraq.
However there was no indication of a similar willingness to work with Shia militias, 
which could perform a similar role in assisting with identifying and defeating Shia 
extremists and death squads. The lack of engagement with Shia militias in 2007 has left 
violence again Coalition forces and violence between different militia groups seeking to 
establish control over territory unaddressed. If the recent improvements in security in 
Sunni dominated areas are attributable to the Coalition’s engagement and empowering of 
militias to maintain local security, then such improvements are unlikely to be replicated 
in Shia areas under the current strategy, which would leave the U.S. hard pressed to 
69
Aljazeera.net, “Bush Meets Iraqi Shia Leader,” Al Jazeera, 
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/639A15E7-470E-4A37-9F72-3DB19724A296.htm2007). 
70
Mark Kukis, “Turning Iraq’s Tribes Against Al Qaeda,” Time Incorporated, 
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1572796,00.html2007). 
71
David H. Petraeus, Report to Congress on the Situation in Iraq (Iraq: Multi-National Force-Iraq
[2007]). 

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reduce its overall footprint in Iraq in the near future. Is there such a direct link between 
strategies vis-à-vis militias and security and stability? The rest of this chapter will argue 
that there is.