Part 2
Petraeus's Challenge
However daunting his military mission, Gen. David H. Petraeus faced no less arduous a political challenge.Discussion Transcript
Author Thomas E. Ricks and Steven Biddle, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, on the Iraq war and President Obama's prospects for ending it.Part 1: Odierno's Surge
(Photo by Charlie Riedel / AP) The Dissenter Who Changed the War
As the No. 2 commander in Iraq, Gen. Raymond T. Odierno challenged the military establishment, pressing for more troops and a long-term strategy to guide them. Full Story »Video
![[Video: 'Worth the Risk']]( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/thegamble/images/video_cook_145.jpg)
U.S. Army Capt. Samuel Cook recounts the risks involved in reconciling with the enemy.
Excerpt: The Insurgent Who Loved Titanic
Timeline
![[Timeline: Iraq Surge]]( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/thegamble/images/timeline_145.gif)
Key events and war trends, including military and civilian deaths, troop levels and enemy attacks.
About This Series
![[Penguin Books: The Gamble]]( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/thegamble/images/book.jpg)
This series was adapted from "The Gamble: General David Petraeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2006-2008" by Thomas E. Ricks, Penguin Group © 2009 On the Web: The Gamble
From the Archives: Fiasco
Tom Ricks: The Best Defense
Key Documents
![[]](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/thegamble/images/keydocuments_80.jpg)
2006 Pentagon study detailing the U.S. failure to recognize the nature of the Iraq war. More Documents »
Key Players
![[]]( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/thegamble/images/keyplayers_80.jpg)
Top figures in the U.S. military's internal struggle over the course of the Iraq war.
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