together with the united states marines and the united states army wiped out al qaeda in the anbar providence. in eastern iraq, the surge supported a counterinsurgency where we went into baghdad. instead of staying back at bases, went into the neighborhoods and provided security for the population. that was the thrust of the surge in early 2007. because of that, we brought down violence by 90% in baghdad. and we stabilized baghdad and pretty soon businesses started to operate, people started to go about their daily routine in life. the government stood up. we now have a government that america built. and lastly, the army stood up. and the last impediment to victory in iraq was mal la al sather. he had a very strategic location. mr. maliki came down. they same up to sadr city, and swept them out, and in the last election, al-s.a.t. -- al-sadr, they were so successful, they captured tons of ironnian arms shipped in to fight the americans. but in the next election, he got 25.9% of the vote. any times the "washington post" declares they are going to win a huge victory, it's usually a kiss in deat