Spreading Bad American Policy from Iraq to Syria…and Back Again

"... In Iraq, the resurgence of sectarian violence stems not from the 2011 American withdrawal. It is, rather, the fruit of America's 2003 invasion of Iraq, the subsequent U.S. occupation, and the much vaunted "surge" of 2007-2008. The U.S. invasion and occupation destroyed the Iraqi state and ignited tensions among Iraq's sectarian and ethnic communities. The surge sought to empower certain Sunni militias while paying them (temporarily) not to kill American soldiers; this ended up giving Sunni militants the means to press their grievances through escalating violence once U.S. forces were no longer around.Unfortunately, Washington seems determined to compound its appalling policy choices in Iraq with equally grievous choices regarding Syria..."