Self-perpetuating misery

This interesting military study concludes what has become increasingly obvious: that the occupation and insurgency in Iraq are now in a viscous circle, where each motivates more of the other.

The occupation of Iraq is today less about rolling back Iraqi military power, dislodging a tyrant, or building a stable democracy than it is about fighting an insurgency -- an insurgency that is now driven substantially by the occupation, its practices, and policies.

It seems like a thorough study of the various motivations and groups involved; I hope that its future installments make some recommendations for undoing the damage.

(via upyernoz)