A primary focus is the Iraq War troop surge of 2007, along with the ascension to command of Gen. David Petraeus and the change in approach of Gen. Ray Odierno towards the use of counter-insurgency strategies.

But it was almost certain that whenever it did end, it wouldn't be with the victory that the Bush administration continued to describe, of an Iraq that was both a stable democracy and an ally of the United States.

But even his less ambitious target of sustainable security would remain elusive, with no certainty of reaching it anytime soon.Ricks also predicted that the US will have combat troops in Iraq until at least 2015.

Ricks appeared to promote the book on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on 10 February 2009.

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