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

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
'Worth the Risk'
U.S. Army Capt. Samuel Cook recounts the risks involved in reconciling with the enemy.
Excerpt: The Insurgent Who Loved Titanic
Timeline
The Surge
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)
On the Web: The Gamble
From the Archives: Fiasco
Tom Ricks: The Best Defense
Key Documents
'We Are Losing'
2006 Pentagon study detailing the U.S. failure to recognize the nature of the Iraq war. More Documents »
Key Players
An Internal Struggle
Top figures in the U.S. military's internal struggle over the course of the Iraq war.
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