AOI Strategy Case Study

In January of 2007, President George W. Bush announced a new campaign strategy on the war against terror. The surge was a way forward to a more unified, democratic federation that can sustain, govern, and defend itself in future generations. His plan involved the deployment of 28,000 additional U.S. troops to the Anbar Province and Baghdad Area of Influence (AOI). The AOI strategy was based on six essential elements that derived from a proposal meeting with senior Iraqi officials; let the Iraqis lead, help Iraqis protect the population, isolate extremists, create space for political progress, diversify political and economic efforts, and situate the strategy in a regional approach (Mansoor 2013). The rapid deployment of five additional Brigades, in support of surge operations, spanned over a five-month period, from January to May of 2007. The implementation of tour extensions took effect in order to facilitate a shared understanding between presently deployed Brigades and the influx of the allotted 28,000 additional U.S. troops. These additional troops would later support Operation Phantom Thunder, Operation Phantom Strike, and Operation Phantom Phoenix. Surge operations, commanded under the authority of General David Petraeus, acted utilizing the concept of Counterinsurgency (COIN). General Petraeus …show more content…
troops collaborated with host nation forces and launched the first surge operation, known as Operation Phantom Thunder. Together, they planned and executed raids and attacks on Baghdad 's northern and southern most boundaries, decimating over 700 Sunni and Al-Qaida insurgents and destroying over 50 high-profile weapons caches. Additionally, the well-organized opposition of the Mahdi Army accepted defeat as Iraqi Special Forces conducted raids near Sadr City, resulting in the capture of a top-priority insurgent leader, which enabled the gathering of critical intelligence that inevitably led to the fall of insurgent