A Framework for thinking about Iraq Strategy (SWJ Blog)

Dave from the Small Wars Journal lays out a A Framework for thinking about Iraq Strategy (SWJ Blog):

If we were to draw historical analogies, we might say that the problem in Iraq is like trying to defeat the Viet Cong (insurgency) while simultaneously rebuilding Germany (nation-building), keeping peace in the Balkans (communal conflict) and defeating the IRA (terrorism). And, oh by the way, these all have to be done at the same time, in the same place, and changes in one part of the problem significantly affect the others.

This is a excellent explanation of the intertwined difficulties in Iraq.